Parents should never feel guilty for wanting time alone, asking for help from friends or relatives or spending a little extra on hiring a sitter. The kids will only be kids for so long before they grow up and leave the house, which means couples will be left to each other. Couples need to love each other just as much as they love their children and keep their relationship growing as their children grow. Making time for your spouse after having children lets you know that you will continue to fall in love over and over again with the person you will grow old with.
1) Shop for Family Cruises
While this may not be a possibility for all families, most family oriented cruise lines offer kids clubs during the day and early evening, absolutely free. After a certain time, usually around 10 pm, a sitter service is available for a small fee. Kids can enjoy the cruise in their own way and parents can enjoy each other while knowing their kids are having fun too.
2) All Inclusive Hotels
Most all-inclusive hotels offer the same services as family oriented cruise lines. However, most hotels require hourly visits or phone ins from the parents to check in on their children. Spouses can enjoy a day at the beach or a horse back ride, while kids get a field trip to the pool or a behind the scenes look at how the hotel operates.
3) Compete in an Online Game or App
Spouses may not be able to spend a lot of time together in person, competing with each other through an online game or app can still be fun and strike up the spirit of competition. Most games and apps can be played from a computer or smart phone such as Candy Crush, card games like Hearts or Spades, or role playing games like World of Warcraft. The majority of games are free, with the exception of in game purchases, monthly premium memberships or role playing subscription fees.
4) No Tell Motel
A lunch date at a local motel might not be the classiest of dates, but it just might be that little something out of the ordinary that couples need. Day dates do not require finding a babysitter, skipping work or giving any sort of explanation to anyone. This option is not free, but definitely worth it for parents who need some genuine time alone without any sort of interruption.
5) Turn off Cell Phones
Turning off a cell phone is one of the best ways to make time for your spouse after having children. Turning off the phone means turning it completely off, not just turning off the ringer or putting the alerts on silent- completely off. Even if is just one hour a day, spouses need to turn off their phones while together and focus on each other or their family and take the time to talk and reconnect.
6) Do Not Include Social Media
One of the worst things for a couple to do to their relationship is to post it on social media sites. Sending messages, pokes, tweets and posting photos does not constitute making time for each other. A random post or ‘like’ every now and then does not hurt, but carrying on a relationship through social media is never a good thing.
7) Do Not Exchange Quantity for Quality
It may not be possible for everyone to spend quality time with their spouse every single day for whatever the reason may be. Having a good, 10 minute conversation greatly outweighs an hour long lunch that is constantly interrupted by cell phone calls or the need to rush back to the kids or work. Parents need to plan ahead, but also enjoy the quality time of the short moments they may have alone together.
Parents should never feel guilty for wanting time alone, asking for help from friends or relatives or spending a little extra on hiring a sitter. The kids will only be kids for so long before they grow up and leave the house, which means couples will be left to each other. Couples need to love each other just as much as they love their children and keep their relationship growing as their children grow. Making time for your spouse after having children lets you know that you will continue to fall in love over and over again with the person you will grow old with.
