Having kids changes a relationship. If you end up with kids who don’t sleep through the night, it’s even harder to keep the relationship strong. I remember raising our sons aka the double trouble team aka two in diapers, also known as the children who didn’t like sleep. This team of boys kept us on our toes, and of course, made me a little crazy.
After having two boys in two years, we had no idea what we were doing. My first child, who has a different father than the younger two boys, was “easy”. I didn’t have any troubles with sleep, behavior or anything with my firstborn. Then, we had two sons. Those boys made our life what I used to refer to as our “Happy Chaos”.
It wasn’t happy though.
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We did it all wrong.
We were tired.
I was emotional.
We pushed and pulled and simply ruined it all.
Looking back, one thing I wish we had learned was how to date your spouse after kids. This wasn’t a concept that worked for us. For one, neither of us wanted to do anything except sleep when we got the chance. I was an emotional mess after having two kids in two years, and we had no one to watch our sons. We literally had three people watch the boys in their entire life, and each did that only one time. So the idea of a babysitter was a no go from there forward.
At the end of the day, if I were to look back upon my married life all those years ago, I would have tried to find a way to have more compassion that he was going through a lot of what I was going through. He was just going through it in a different way. I am more vocal, he is not. I am more emotional, he is not. These are things I wish I had been better at understanding and appreciating back then.
We both can look back upon those years.
But we don’t live there.
We live here.
In the present day.
And there’s no time like the present to learn how to date your spouse with kids. If you’re new to this parenting gig, then continue reading for some brilliant ways to date your spouse with kids.
Let the lights go dim.
Turn the music on low.
And let the dating your spouse with kids games begin …
How to Date Your Spouse With Kids
Grab a Cup of Coffee Together
Get up in the morning before your kids are awake, yes this may mean waking up before the crack of dawn. Brew a pot of coffee and relax together as you try to wake up and prepare for your busy day.
Watch a Movie
Get the kids tucked into their beds, and snug as a bug in a rug. Ours didn’t sleep, so let’s just say a rule that they stay in their room in bed, will help you date your spouse with kids after they’re IN THEIR OWN BED. Once in bed, put on a movie to snuggle up and watch together.
Go for a Walk
As your kids get older, you can leave them home alone for a short period of time. Go for a walk with your spouse before the nighttime routine begins and things get a little crazy.
Play Board Games
A little competition can really get the connection strong between you and your spouse. Try to get some adult board games or ones that you both enjoy for a little board game fun while the kids are asleep or preoccupied.
Snuggle Before Bed
When all is done and you’re ready to go to bed, snuggle up with each other to have a little bedtime pillow talk. This is a great way to sneak in a few minutes to date your spouse with kids before you both fall asleep snoring.
Conclusion – Dating Your Spouse With Kids
In all reality, I have no idea how to truly date your spouse with kids but if I were to change and do it all over again, I would have done some of these ideas. It simply takes a little bit of patience, compassion and the ability to recognize that you both need this time together. When you’re on the same team and working together, you all should be able to find a way to make one of these date night ideas with kids work just fine for you.
Have fun rekindling that connection by dating your spouse, and watch the sparks fly all over again. You’re welcome.
Been together too long or not long enough? Not sure what to talk about? Try these 8 date night questions here or click the image below to download the PDF file and print it.
