Many years ago when our children were very small, I remember hearing the counsel to have a weekly date with my sweetheart, and thinking, 'Right, get a babysitter once a week, that's not going to happen!' We occasionally did get a sitter for a rare night out, but mostly Friday night was a stay at home affair, especially if it was a year when there was a new baby in the family. Nowadays things are different, and Scott and I do go out on a date once a week, but our children are much older now and we have built in babysitters. In fact, our youngest is not far away from being able to babysit other people's children.
While we were not always inclined or able to get a babysitter when our children were younger, we did try and have a date together one night a week. Because our children went to bed very early, we took advantage of that evening time and planned a little activity for ourselves. Whether it was renting a movie and getting a treat, or having a picnic in front of the fireplace, we still tried to make time for ourselves as a couple. I'm afraid I was usually too tired to be very creative, hopefully all the young mothers out there can be more imaginative than I was!
After twenty years of marriage, I am very glad that we have made the time over the years to date each other. It certainly helps in strengthening a marriage, and it's important for children to see that their parents are in love.
I found your blog on Mormon Moms Who Blog. Thanks for this post. It's really important for children to see their parents in love. My parents, having 7 kids, tried to go out on dates whenever they can. It wasn't consistent but they did it. I guess that, among many other factors, helped them stay together even though growing up my siblings and I didn't see how in love they were (we usually saw and heard the opposite)
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I have only been married for 3 1/2 years and our family is still young (we have a 3 month old and a 2 1/2 y.o.) It's hard to go out on dates, like you said, when kids are this young. But we grabbed every opportunity we could to go out on a date whenever my mother-in-law is with us. And when she's not around, our time together is spent after the kids have gone to bed. Now that he is studying for his CPA and we have a baby, it gets a lot harder but we still try. It really strengthens our marriage when we spend some time together.
Wonderful. I so remember the 'little ones' years. And we did precisely what you did. Dates at home!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing!
P.S. Just read a wonderful blog post on this same subject from Middle Aged Mormon Man. He thinks like us!
Love this picture of you two ;)
ReplyDelete