Date Night Ideas For You and Your Partner/Spouse
Everyone knows that having a baby changes your world in nearly every way possible - in both joyful and not-so-joyful ways. It impacts your ability to work, go to school, your friendships, your health, and your relationship with your partner/spouse. Although I knew all this before having my baby, I wasn’t quite prepared for how much the dynamic between significant others could change postpartum. And that change could come in any form - it could make your bond with your partner stronger, or it could make your bond weaker. All too often I have seen couples succumb to the weight of raising a child and forgetting all about each other. And how could you not? The endless responsibilities of being a parent (especially if you are a working parent) leave you with so little energy for anything else. But the tiredness that threatens to kill the spark between you and your partner is just that - a threat. We do not have to allow the tiredness to succeed. And it is so so important for the spark to stay alive because the kid(s) will grow up one day and leave our houses. And when that happens, all you will have is each other. We must water the relationships we have with our partners/spouses every single day.
So, how do we keep the romance alive after having a baby? Honestly, I’m no expert so you can take everything I say with a grain of salt. However, my partner and I have been together for 10 years, so perhaps that counts for something. I asked him to weigh in on this article and we compiled a list of ideas for a good date night. Ideally, you would secure an overnight babysitter so that you can go out with your partner, but I also compiled a separate list of date nights at home, just in case you can’t go out for any reason. Here’s what we came up with:
If you’re going out:
Go somewhere (kind of) nice to eat. This one is a no-brainer - I doubt either of you is going to want to waste time cooking during this special occasion. Treat yourselves to a restaurant you wouldn’t normally go to and enjoy every minute. Maybe even go crazy and order dessert for yourselves.
Hit the bar. As parents, you’re almost certainly not living the same crazy life you lived in your early twenties, so tonight is a good night to get stupid for old times’ sake.
Painting “with a twist.” There are places where you can paint while drinking wine… it’s a super cool atmosphere and you and your partner will most likely have a good laugh at each other’s poor painting skills.
Take a walk on a (well-lit) beach. Some beaches are quite lively at night and have plenty of lighting. This activity could make for a relaxing date night for you and your partner.
Go to the movies. Bonus points if you can find a movie theater with reclining chairs.
Take a dance class. If your partner is a man, it might take some work to convince him to do this one with you, but it’s worth a try for sure.
Winery. If you and your partner love wine, or if you’re thinking of expanding your palate, a winery could be a fun and inexpensive way to do so. I have been to wineries that are free to attend and taste the wines, and you only pay for wine bottles if you choose to buy them.
Brewery. Same idea as going to a winery, but perhaps a bit more masculine for the manly man in your life (lol).
Karaoke! What better way to let loose and forget all of your responsibilities than to make a total fool of yourself with the love of your life?!
Hit an arcade. Not only will this activity be so much fun for you and your partner, but it will also give you a chance to connect with your inner child again. Someone I’m sure you haven’t been in touch with for a while.
If you have to stay home for date night and your kids will be sleeping in the next room, this will be tough but it’s doable and still very much worth it. Here are some at-home date night ideas:
Candlelit dinner for 2. Some steak and red wine with your significant other can go a long way. As Taylor Swift would say - lay the table with the fancy sh*t.
Game night for 2. You can pull out some old-fashioned board games, or there are tons of apps you can download on your phone for this exact purpose.
Murder mystery game. These particular games are a little pricey - upwards of $30 - $40 per game, but they are fun if you’re willing to put out the money for them. My partner and I did this one time and we had a blast.
Quiet s*xy time. Putting on some nice lingerie and trying something new in the bedroom (as quietly as possible) can’t possibly hurt. If your little ones are not home, forget about the “quiet” part - be as loud as you need to be.
Hang out in your pool or hot tub, if you have them.
Take a long walk around your neighborhood.
Ask each other random questions and listen to each other’s responses. Pretend you’re on a date with someone you just met and you’re trying to get to know them.
Give each other massages.
Movie night at home. Don’t forget the candy and popcorn.
Video games, if you’re both into that.
I hope the date night ideas mentioned above are enough to inspire you and your partner to make each other a priority. Other than the relationship we have with our children, our relationship with our partners/spouses is the most important one in our lives. I truly believe that divorce would not be as common if people didn’t lose sight of this.
XOXO, Alexis.