Spending Time Without the Kids

Many parents are so busy with work and family responsibilities that they have difficulty finding time to nurture themselves or their romantic relationships.

In order for couples to stay close and bonded, however, they need to make their relationship a priority and dedicate some time for just the two of them.

The Importance of Daily Communication

Today’s parents often find that in an effort to manage their day to day responsibilities, they lose sight of the need for romance. Worse, some couples juggle schedules that have them crossing paths only long enough to drop off or pick up children as they transport the kids to their activities. While it is important for parents to meet their children’s needs, there must to be a balance so that Mum and Dad have some time for each other, too.

While few married couples expect constant evenings of wine and roses, parents do need to have a bit of time each day to talk and share their feelings. For some busy parents, calling or sending text messages during the workday can help them to feel connected to one another as they go about their jobs, allowing them to make plans and let each other know that they are being thought of. Nothing can replace time spent face-to-face, but when that’s not possible, modern technology can lend a hand.

Relationships Need Time and Attention

Most relationships go through their ups and downs, but in order for bonds to remain strong and weather the rough patches, couples must take time to build themselves a solid base. Both partners need to make their relationship a high priority, despite the many demands that they have on their time.

For many people, the time each evening after the children have been tucked in to bed is their best opportunity to focus their attention on one another. While there will always be a long list of household chores that need doing, it matters more that couples get time together than it does that they live in perfectly tidy houses.

Finding Someone to Mind the Children

When possible, parents should set aside their responsibilities to home and family in order to go out on proper dates, just the two of them. For some, the lack of safe, reliable, affordable childcare prohibits them from going out without their children, but it is worth the effort to find someone trustworthy to mind the children now and then.

For those who aren’t comfortable leaving the children with a teenager, swapping childcare with friends might be the solution. Couples agree to take turns watching each other’s kids so that both couples get child care that they know is of good quality and best of all, it’s free!

The Gift of a Happy Family

Parents sometimes feel that they are being selfish when they take time for themselves, but in reality, that time benefits their families, as well. The children in stepfamilies have likely already been through one parental break-up and the experience was probably a difficult one. Parents and stepparents owe it to themselves and their children to maintain their relationship and create a stable home environment. Happy couples are able to show their children that long-term love is possible and that romantic relationships can be a source of great joy – messages that will serve them well once they are on their own and building their own families.