Dating My Husband
I’m a firm believer in dating your husband after marriage. Especially after kids! I really encourage you all to do so…Make sacrifices if needed. Buddy up with another family and trade off date nights and kid sitting once a month. Find a reliable teenager to come over after your kids are asleep to go grab a warm beverage and catch up on life. It doesn’t have to be elaborate. It doesn’t have to be costly. It doesn’t even have to be lengthy. It’s a valuable time set aside to keeping your marriage fresh. And please don’t let guilt take away from your time to pour into your relationship with your husband, as I have during the past 2 years.
Thankfully, the end of the summer has held several opportunities for Brad and I to sneak away, enjoy some peaceful conversation, and time to date. Which has been a true break from the intensity of quad parenting! Thank you family and dear friends! We cannot say it enough!
One of our favorite times together involved a relaxing dinner at Petite Chou. It’s such a charming cozy find! And their food is delightful! It currently holds my #1 Spot for Favorite Restaurants in the City. Brad and I split the Chicken Crepe with Asparagus and Mushrooms, along with their famous Frites (French Fries). I wish I were eating it right now!
And we just had to save room for dessert once we saw this on the menu…
Cowabunga! It was even better than it looks! A dessert crepe filled with mixed berries and topped with warm ganache and cream.
The Anticipation. The Bite. The Savor.
Check, Please!
(Side Note: Petite Chou did not solicit this promo of their delightful eats, pay for our meal, or even give me a free T-shirt. My own stomach is doing all the talking.)
Other dates have involved chillaxin’ at Barnes and Noble, taking a walk around Monument Circle, and dressing up like Egyptian Pharaohs.
You don’t believe me?
How about now?
Yes, we are random….
And in love.
What’s your favorite date night ideas? How do you make time for dates? Where do you enjoy going sans kids?
I personally have struggled w/ the guilt of needing break time and needing date time. I know some people who don't get it as much as me… but also don't have two 2-year-olds & a 1-year old (2 foster kids!) so I know that I just have to take the breaks i get and appreciate them! Very sweet post! I'm proud of you for making time for your best friend!
So happy to hear that you two make the time to go out together without children…that is a very important part of a marriage. Well, I may not qualify to answer your questions because our daughter is married and our son is in college, so we are always "sans kids," but we do try to go out to dinner every Friday night. Going out is still special, even after 34years of marriage!
Gail
Annapolis, MD
One of my favorite benefits my employer offers is free dinner once a month. My husband and I try to take advantage of it every month, without kids! I agree that it is very important to spend some one-on-one time with your spouse. It is great for our relationship.
I also try to make it fun for the kdis. They either get to hang out with Grammie & Grampa (sometimes even spend the night)! Or have a super fun time with the sitter. We usually let them have popcorn & ice cream and stay up late watching a movie. I want them to look forward to Mommy & Daddy's date night as much as we do.
In fact, I just got finished making dinner reservations for this Saturday night! I can't wait.
You two are so fun! I love the pics! 🙂 Unfortunately my hubby and I don't ever get date nights. However, we do like to enjoy some quiet time with each other once the kids are in bed at night.
Yep…Sean and I have a date at least once a month. Next month will be our 14th anniversary of the "First Date"….and am so glad we've had 1000s of dates since… Great post!
LOVE it! You know, my husband and I feel as though every night is date night after the kids are down! Fave TV shows on, or we watch the news (and discuss our feelings), watch an On-Demand movie with a glass of wine (me) and a cocktail (him) and we're right back in the land of learning about and loving each other as we did pre-twins. 🙂
Getting out IS wonderful, but time together, alone, wherever it may be is imperative. 🙂
Great, fun post! (and a valuable reminder!)
Didn't realize when we ran into you that you guys get into trouble when you are out….I thought you both looked innocent!!!
I love this! It is so needed to keep the love alive and strong. My husband and I usually have a date once a week.( We have 5 under 8..it helps me keep my sanity!:)I feel like it is so worth paying a sitter to have quality time with eachother…
It can also be considered a "date" to watch a favorite show together after all the kids are in bed!:)
What a great post, Jen and so inspiring! My husband and I have just been talking about how we need some time away. We both have full time jobs, and miss the kids so much, so most of our at home time is spent with them. But – having a 4 year old and 19 month old twins makes home like fun and crazy, so we still need time away just the two of us. Thank you for inspiring me! We've just been talking how I think we need to get away overnight…and now I'm ready to plan it!
Those fries look delicious and dessert, oh how I love dessert!
Glad ya'll had a great date night.
Awesome! Toe and I are definitely getting some date nights in with all the quaddie help we have on our trip.
Jac
Thank you ever so much! Yes, the guilt is absolutely there. I know I should put my husband first, but in real life on a regular Wednesday? I put the kids first and my job second, which leaves my best friend in the dog house as far as my attention is concerned. (We do date. And it's great. However, every night is _not_ date night…)
So thank you for this. And thank you for the reminder to go dating regularly! We're not ready for the "once a week" level of advanced dating, but I am sure we could make it once a month! This Saturday, it is! Thanks again! (Fetching sister-in-law's cell phone number…)
Enjoyed the post…and I totally agree with you about the need to date our husbands. Unfortunately, for us, we've struggled with having babysitters. We do get to attend a couple's retreat in a couple of weeks…I'm SO EXCITED!
We love going anywhere w/out kids…it's so much fun just to be together and enjoy each other's company. My husband works in a tall building downtown-during our next date, I want to go up in the building, maybe at sunset…and then he's going to take me on the roof! 🙂 It overlooks the Ohio River….
I agree! My husband and I have datenights once a month or 2. We go to dinner and usually see a movie we been wanting to see. Our son goes to grandma/grandpa house for the night. We have never felt guilty for this because we realize we have to take our marriage and make it the most important thing because we are happy then our son will see that and we will be a happy family. granted we only have 1 child who is 3years old but I firmly believe every couple needs to put their marriage as a priority.
Just found your blog for the first time today. Your boys are adorable. Great advice about date nights. I remember the overwhelm and not having time to really have fun with my hubby. So important! Come visit me at lifelaughlatte.com.
My husband and I rarely do special "date nights," but we try to make time to chat and catch up before watching a little TV and drifting off to sleep. It's still a special time, even after five years of marriage!
But I am excited to report that he's going to be whisking me off on a mystery trip next weekend. His only hint at our destination was that we were flying out of a major airport and I would need a bathing suit. Let's just hope that he's got a beach in mind, and not just a motel swimming pool! 🙂
Random..in love..and beautiful!
I love that you make this point to get out and have adult time! I think so many parents struggle with guilt, but it is so important to make the time!!
Great posts! (and wow..that food looks AMAZING!!)
Dating while married is very important. I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks so. We've gotten away from it in our marriage and it is definitely taking it's tole. I think tonight is date night.
we try to do date nights once a month too and we so look forward to it. our son calls it our "hot date"
we like to go and get coffee and just be together
Great post, Jen! We have such a hard time finding a sitter, but we managed to line up childcare on a weekday. My hubby was inspired to take a mental health day for us to have a date!