Just wondering how many mommy's out there go on dates with their husband (w/o the kids, of course). How often do you get away together? My husband and I had a date last weekend and realized that it had been 6 MONTHS since we had time alone. YIKES! I suppose it is normal with young children...or is it. How 'bout you?

By Alberobello on Tuesday, March 1, 2005 - 09:00 am:

We don't go out very often, but once a year we leave our son with his grandparents in Italy for two or three weeks and go away somewhere. Last year we went to Mexico for two weeks and it was wonderful. That's why i don't mind if we go out in London just the two of us. I actually prefer to go out with the whole family (us three) whenever my dh is off work. We are blessed with wonderful grandparents and an aunt and an uncle in Italy who also have children so we know our son is very happy when he goes there. Honestly, to go out in London for a few hours, pay a babysitter or ask someone a favour, and then spend a fortune just going out doesn't appeal to me. It can be more stressful than staying in. I'd rather wait for our time over the summer.

By Yjja123 on Tuesday, March 1, 2005 - 09:01 am:

We are going on a date this Friday. It has been YEARS since we went out alone. We usually just carve out some alone time at home. Friday a friend invited our kids for a sleepover so we are going to go out and enjoy ourselves. We are both looking forward to it.

By Kym on Tuesday, March 1, 2005 - 09:38 am:

We "date" every Sunday night, it's early bed night for the kids so we tuck them away by 8:30 (for the oldest) and have wine, watch a movie, play games etc, lately I must admit we've been watching Desperate Housewives, but it usually stirs some good conversation afterwords
We go "out" on a date once a month, sometimes it's lunch, dinner a movie, a function. We try to swap sitting with other parents so it doesn't cost too much and it allows someone else to go out on a date too!
Very Very important in my opinion! You have to keep the relationship strong that the whole foundation was built on

By Andi on Tuesday, March 1, 2005 - 09:47 am:

No, but we need to start. The last time we had a date was the Saturday before Valentines Day. We are going to Vegas for 3 days and two nights with NO KIDS in April.
We have no good reason we don't "date" we have a great Babysitter in our neighborhood.
Thanks for your post...I think I will talk to DH about scheduling something a couple times a month with the sitter! I think it would be great for us and for the kids.

By Trina~moderator on Tuesday, March 1, 2005 - 09:49 am:

Once or twice a year we go out alone on a date. We enjoy couple time often after the kids have gone to bed.

By Conni on Tuesday, March 1, 2005 - 09:52 am:

We went snow skiing together the first week of February with no kids. 5 days alone and all I did was miss my kids. I skiied alone most of the time because I ski greens and blues and dh ski's black's. Real romantic. (note a tinge of sarcasm) We hadnt vacationed alone since our honeymoon in 1999. I tag along on business trips sometimes-- but thats NOT a vacation. I fly stand-by which is horrid, then I go by myself all day long while dh is working. Actually its nice to do that I like it! I just dont like flying stand by. yuk!!

We went out with some friends on Valentines Day to the movies. That was fun.

We took oldest ds (22) to dinner last week (without the younger kids). That was fun.

Usually we do things as a family tho. Thats how I prefer it. We do alot of outdoor activities together.

I also try to date my kids as well. 2 weeks ago I took Bradley and a friend of his to the movie he had wanted to see.

Next week I am taking Blake to see Blue's CLue's Live at the Art's Center.

Brandon has been asking for several weeks to go ice skating and I plan to do that with him in the next week or so!!

In answer to your question- I guess dh and I do date. But not every weekend or even every month. A few times a yr. We like to go to Plays at the Art's Center, Football games, Dinner, Movies, etc...

The best times I have are when the neighbor or my Mom gets the kids and we just hang out at home watching a movie and then we go to bed early. (i am a sad case. lol)

By Trina~moderator on Tuesday, March 1, 2005 - 10:10 am:

You know, this post reminded me of something. Both kids are now in school full day. Awhile back DH mentioned planning a day off work so we could have a "Day Date". We could go out for lunch and do whatever we please. Even enjoy the house alone together before the kids get home from school. I'll have to remind him!

By Tink on Tuesday, March 1, 2005 - 11:05 am:

We only go out together twice a year or so. My mom watches the kids all day in June so we can go to an annual music fest. We usually try to go out around our anniversary, too. We've been getting out a bit more often, maybe we'll go out four times in one year! *sarcasm here too*

By Jackie on Tuesday, March 1, 2005 - 11:37 am:

We never go on dates.. We dont have any "real" babysitters. I do have friends who offer to watch my kids, but I wouldnt torture anybody with 3 kids. The last time me and my husband went out alone was when my 2 older kids were in Vacation bible school during the summer. Since it was in the evenings for a whole week, we went out to dinner alone a couple times, and to the store. That was about 2 weeks before Faith was born. Other than that, we dont do date nights, neither one of us ever think about it. He works fulltime and goes to school at night, so when he has a night off, he likes to be home and catch up on the things that need to be done.I know people say its impt for a marriage, but we have never made it a priority, and having no family here, makes it even harder to ask people.

By Fraggle on Tuesday, March 1, 2005 - 11:40 am:

We don't get out of the house on a "date" very often either. Part of it was because we didn't have a babysitter, but my sister lives near us now. I'm going to email her and see when she is free for babysitting.

By My2cuties on Tuesday, March 1, 2005 - 01:13 pm:

We go on a date at least every other weekend. We will go to dinner and shopping for our date usually and get back late, and crash...or whatever. My mom loves to watch my girls and we also have a babysitter so we really don't have a problem getting someone to watch them.

By Boxzgrl on Tuesday, March 1, 2005 - 01:16 pm:

About once a month.

By Kaye on Tuesday, March 1, 2005 - 04:40 pm:

My hubby has every other friday off, so we have dates then. We try to keep that day free of other plans at least once every third one, so it can be all about us. But that doesn't always happen. I really need time with my dh as a wife to be able to connect with him, it is so easy for me to view him as one more person to take care of. So we are pretty good about getting our time in. However, only since the past two years (kids in school) was I able to make this work for us. When they are little you want the time, but it was just so hard to find a sitter and then get all dressed up, and then get home by such and such time. I do at least 3-4 times a year have a candle lit dinner for him when he gets home. i feed the kids early and let them watch a movie and we have a date in our house.

By Jann on Tuesday, March 1, 2005 - 05:02 pm:

Yes. How can we expect to enjoy our time together when the kids are grown and gone if we don't stay connected now???

By Colette on Tuesday, March 1, 2005 - 05:02 pm:

We go out alone at least once a week and have time alone every night after the kids go to bed.

By Jelygu on Tuesday, March 1, 2005 - 05:11 pm:

We don't date very often, but we are actually planning on going out this weekend!

By Reds9298 on Tuesday, March 1, 2005 - 06:38 pm:

I agree with Jann- yes we really make an effort to date just for that very reason. We're afraid of losing each other! It's not always an 'out' date- a lot of times it's just plans together after dd goes to bed...a movie, quiet time together, or just talking.

By Monicamomof3 on Tuesday, March 1, 2005 - 07:23 pm:

Kaye- WOW! What a special thing to do for your husband. I think I will try that. That sounds wonderful. We date at times, but have no family here and our friends have many young children of their own. On weekends, we get up before sunrise as our pre-set coffee brews for a morning date. Isn't it neat to see what other couples do to make it work...especially so that they will KNOW another when the kids are gone!

By Jann on Tuesday, March 1, 2005 - 09:02 pm:

My bil's office is pretty near their home, so lots of time he and my sister have lunch dates. (even a little afternoon delight! LOL) This works so well for them cause once the kids get home from school there is just no time. For a while, my husband was officing out of our home. We did the same and it was so nice.

By Dawnk777 on Wednesday, March 2, 2005 - 12:21 am:

Well, during the school year, kids are gone during the day and he works second shift. So, if I'm not working at the clinic, we get time alone during the day. It's nice. I miss it over the summer!

By Truestori on Wednesday, March 2, 2005 - 10:00 am:

We have 4 hours every Monday to ourselves, unless there is a holiday or one of the children are sick. Its nice to know that we have that special time together after a long week and weekend. We usually go out to breakfast and just talk. It is really important to reconnect and stay in touch with your partners "adult" needs!