Best At Home Date Nights

With four kids, one under the age of one who still depends on mama to eat, it’s hard for Math Man and me to find time away from home. In fact, as I type this, I realize it is going on 9 months since the last time we did something alone — unless you count the time we spent in the labor and delivery room waiting for Baby Diva to arrive.

This means we expend effort trying to find alone time here at home. Usually, it’s while the kids sleep. I think one time, we actually stood outside for a few minutes without anyone calling for us. Oh! And there was one time we moved some furniture next door — so, wee!, 5 minutes of alone time.

But maybe you aren’t dealing with the inability to leave the house. Maybe, instead, you’re finding that you don’t want to venture out into the wintery weather that awaits this time of year.

How do we make the most of the time we do get? Let me give you some tips for the best at home date nights:

1. Takeout – Sounds simple, but when you haven’t eaten at a restaurant in months without balancing all of your kids and their food needs while salivating at your steak that continues to get colder and colder and colder…you get the idea. We have a local Chinese restaurant that makes us feel like we’re splurging. Sometimes, we are brave and order from somewhere a little further. And other times, we order on the go while shopping and make sure it’s food we can reheat later.

2. Movies – There are so many ways to see a movie. We can’t get to the movies, so on a night that the stars align and we’re able to watch a full movie without falling asleep, we rely on Hulu, Amazon Prime or the Redbox box. Netflix would fit the bill if you have it…or even an old DVD you still have sitting in your entertainment center.

3. Talking – It’s rare that we can even hear one another let alone have a decent face-to-face conversation with one another. Sometimes, once the kids have gone to bed, we will put down our phones and look at each other. It’s nice to actually listen and enjoy each others’ company.

4. Binge watching – Who better to discover a new show via Hulu, Prime, or Netflix than your hubby or wife? We’ve re-discovered Key and Peele and Veep. Both hilarious, and both are shows we can enjoy together. Plus, they give us something to talk about that isn’t associated with our children’s bathroom habits.

5. Board games – It’s rare that Math Man and I have this chance, but we have been known to pull out Scrabble. Good conversation and flirting often occurs when we start to “compete” with one another. Plus, this is great fodder for inside jokes later.

6. Sitting on the veranda – Just kidding; we don’t really have a veranda. What we do have is a back concrete slab. And sometimes, it’s nice to pretend we’ve escaped by just sitting outside and sipping our beverages or eating some ice cream. There’s something about the cool night’s air that can help clear your mind and feel like you’ve made it out and away for a bit.

What do you do to connect with your significant other when you can’t leave the house?

Today, I’m linking up with other bloggers who have great ideas for when it’s cold outside. Be sure to drop by and visit!

Easy Beginner’s Crochet Head Warmer from Someone Else’s Genius

Delicious Crockpot Italian Soup from Baking in a Tornado

10 Romantic Movies & Books to Warm You from Home on Deranged

A Snowflake Wreath from The Liebers

 

Tags: blogwithfriends, marriage, parenting, relationships