How to spend more time with your partner: 5 Tips for parents
It’s the toughest job being a parent. And whilst you know that a happy and long-lasting relationship with your partner provides the much-needed security and stability kids need, it’s not always easy to find a balance between your various roles as parent, partner and all your other obligations to work and wider family. Amongst all your commitments, you wish to be an attentive partner. Here are five tips to help you be a happy couple:
Schedule Date Nights
We all grow and change over time, particularly when there are children involved. Share your schedules and see when you are free to spend time together to talk and connect. It’s important to keep in touch with how each other are feeling, your hopes and your plans for the future. If you can, have a date night every week or at least once a month. If you have young children, hire a sitter or set up a sitter-exchange with your friends, family or neighbours.
Date nights should be fun. They can include be a romantic meal, a visit to the movies or to go to a place that means something special to you both. Take turns to arrange the nights that you’ve scheduled. Your date night is not for you to talk about your financial worries, the difficult relationship you have with their sister or to argue over how to squeeze the toothpaste tube. If you want to talk about these choose another time (though the toothpaste is probably best left as something you’ll have to learn to live with).
If meeting up in the evening isn’t possible, meet each other for lunch with a picnic in the park or go to a matinee, lunchtime recital or art gallery. If your budget is tight, watch a movie at home after the kids have fallen asleep.
Explore the Little Things
We all like to feel cherished in our relationships. When your partner comes in from work or a visit to family and friends, stop what you are doing and greet them with a smile and ask how their day has been. Hold hands when you’re together. Cuddle up on the sofa. Your touch will let your partner know how much you love them. When your partner is tired or stressed, take on one (or more) of the chores you know your partner doesn’t like without asking. Buy a romantic gift for their birthday or other significant date that shows that you care.
Be generous
Be generous with your time and with your attention to your partner. Celebrate your partner’s achievements and let them know how proud you are. Mark special occasions with a gift that suits their personality and style. Personalised your gift with their initials or with a favourite phrase you share to add an extra touch. Gifts do not have to be expensive, but your partner will appreciate the time and effort you have put into the choice that you have made.
Do It Together
It’s good to spend time together as a couple sharing activities. If you currently don’t have a shared interest do something new as a couple that you hope to both enjoy. This could be going out for evening walks, playing board games or following your local football team. If you can’t agree on what hobby to share, create a list of experiences you would each like to try. Take it in turns to try each activity. You’ll be creating a new set of memories for you as a couple and have fun too.
Make Time for Sex
It’s difficult to be spontaneously intimate when you have babies and young children to look after. Therefore, you do need to make time
for sex. If you can, arrange for the kids to have a sleepover with friends or family so you have the house to yourself all night. The anticipation of being together in this way will add spark to your romantic life!
It’s important to make sex a priority in your marriage. Sexual intimacy gives you the closeness you and your partner need to stay connected. Be imaginative and have fun!
