My husband and I are going 5 1/2 years of marriage and we have 4 kids with the oldest turning 5 in July. So that being said, we have only experienced weekly dates without juggling kids for a year of our relationship. We’re not perfect. We miss an occasionally date night, some date nights are just a quick game of cards, and some we have with kids. But as we have prioritized date night, any time rough seas are upon us we have been able to weather the storm and come out stronger. So here are some date night with kids tips for you!
First tip, prioritize date night. Create a story that says you go on weekly dates and read it every day. Create an affirmation, I have weekly dates with my husband/wife. Write a list why date night/day is important and the benefits that will come out about. Write what will happen if you do not have weekly date nights. What ever helps you realize that date nights are important, do it and place it somewhere to remind you to go on weekly date nights. And be okay with being the instigator for dates every time.
Tip #2, have a consistent time every week to have date night. Obviously you can be flexible. But this was really helpful for Seth and I to get back in the habit. We picked a date that we always were available and set it as our date night. Once we got back into the habit, it allowed us to be flexible and now we plan what day to do our date at the beginning of the week.
Tip #3, have a babysitter. When we had a consistent date, we had a babysitter come over weekly. She came every week. We pulled the babysitting money from the beginning of the month for the 4 times she would come so we never had to worry about getting cash or if there would be cash. We made it happen. Now we do not have a weekly babysitter that comes but we still use her at least 2 times a month some times more if we feel we need it. Now if paying money for a babysitter is too much plus spending money on a date, look for other couples with young kids and ask if they want to do babysitting swaps. This way you not only are getting an opportunity to go on a date without kids, you are helping another couple achieve this goal.
Tip #4, Be okay with having the kids apart of the date. My husband and I have done a few at home dates with the kids. It’s been fun and I think it’s important to the kids to see their parents dating. They also feel super excited to be a part of our scratch off dates, I do advise that at least once a month you leave the home to have dates.
Tip #5 look into dating stuff to help think outside the box for date ideas. We have done date night boxes, and they were a lot of fun. Currently we are obsessed with the Adventure Challenge scratch off couples edition. We love it, it has given us ideas that we can recreate, it has gotten us out of our comfort zone and learn more about each other. My personal favorite about it, they have on each scratch off hints about the date. So some have a little baby next to it, letting you know your gonna want a babysitter for this one. And when it doesn’t have one we know we can either do it with the kids or turn a movie on in one room while we do the date in the other room!
Date night with kids doesn’t have to be hard. My biggest and best tip is the first one. Because once you prioritize your dates with your spouse, you figure out the rest.