February 3rd, 2012 
Many things changed when my husband and I had our son. Our relationship as a couple was one of them. It was no longer just the two of us. My husband and I had to share our space and our time with a tiny human and his mob of baby related things. We realized that we no longer owned our home, our son and his things had taken over. We couldn’t walk from the kitchen to our room without stepping on a squeaky toy or kicking a ball. Snuggling in bed at night meant playing footsie with a stuffed animal hiding under our covers. At first it was very difficult to make time for each other. With sleepless nights, bottles to sanitize, and feeding schedules there was hardly any time to have a warm meal, let alone go out on a romantic date.
Photo Credit: www.sfgate.com
It takes effort and creativity, but romance can still be found in babyland. Just because a child has entered your relationship it doesn’t mean you have to give up on cultivating a meaningful relationship with your partner. As a couple in need of some TLC, try to embrace the late evening hours after your children are in bed. There won’t be a child in need of your constant attention distracting you from one another. It is your chance to rejuvenate and revive your relationship. Here are a few ideas of things that you can do together:
- Chat about your day
- Play a card game or video games
- Watch your favorite show
- Make midnight margaritas or smoothies
- Bake some muffins or cookies for the next day
- Read a book together
- Give each other a massage
Photo Credit: www.answers.com
Being anything but parents for those few hours in the evening can help you feel alive again. Making time for each other a few times a week helps you remember that you are still the couple that fell in love. Becoming parents doesn’t mean that you are now incapable of having an intimate relationship. A simple hour or two in the evenings is sometimes all that is needed reclaim your romance.
When the baby is crying and your shirt is stained with spit up, it’s hard to believe that things could ever be romantic again. Romance is not limited to fancy dinners at a hip restaurant or evenings away from your children. Romance is in all the little things that kindle your love for your partner, including your baby.
“Being anything but parents for those few hours in the evening can help you feel alive again”
It’s so so hard sometimes. Even when Peter and I have “date nights” we find ourselves talking about the kid (or the pregnancy these days). Sometimes you really need a reminder to STOP and talk about adult things…like you did before the kids stole your brain