Mom's & Dad's, do you find it difficult to find quality time alone without the kids?

Question

What I mean by quality time is time where you can just enjoy being together, like going out on a date night, like you did before you were married or had the kids.

Answer 1

We've been married for 32 years, and the kids are grown and gone, but the problem you describe is so familiar. We were lucky to have parents locally that wanted to watch our children (2) frequently. So, each Friday night each child would stay with one grandparent and vice versa. Friday nights became special nights for us to go eat, catch a movie or just visit. I encourage all young parents to find a way to spend one night a week alone with each other. It's good for the kids, and really good for mom and dad.

Answer 2

Yes. But we try 2 do things as best we can. We make compromises, such as late night randevous. My husband & I read to one another in the AMs, this allows our kids to see us reading & doing things not surrounded around work, tv, radio, computer, phones, etc. We even have a selection of games such as scrabble, that we occassionally whip out.

However, most of our enjoyment & quality time together is as a family unit: walks in the park, I swing & he push, window shopping & lunch at the malls, the gym, etc.

My oldest is 2 & an early bird. We've trained him to stay in his room until either of us greet him with "Good Morning".

Finding a sitter for nights out never fails anyone. The thing is to remember that although children are a blessing . . . So is your marriage/relationship. It takes Patience, Perserverance, Love, Desire, and Understanding to make time; however, every moment will be worth it & will build your relationship/friendship in a way that others often fail.

Answer 3

Absolutely... however we don't try too hard.... We planned an Anniversary trip and actually went to an indoor water park..... WITH THE KIDS... lol

About 1-2 times a month, we get a sitter and go out just us. I believe since we are parents of 5 we need to focus on raising them. Our time is important alone and we do enjoy it but we would rather order pizza and wings and rent a DVD then go out without the kids.

If you ask the kids... they LOVE when we leave them with a sitter... it means they pick out dinner, the DVD and get to eat popcorn in the living room... lol

Answer 4

Yes we do. They are growing up so fast and my husband and I do get some time at night. so all in all I wouldn't change it..but my husband on the other hand most likely would..lol "men'(jking)I will not let any one watch my kids. They are both under the age of 3 so maybe when they are a little older. I am always telling my husband that we will one day have so much time together that we will wish we had more kids...lol

Answer 5

depends on what you consider quality time but when kids are really young its difficult to get good sleep even. so yeah. without sitters or family to help out its difficult to have time together without some sort of interruption so either you realize it, get over it and wait for that time that you'll have some time uniterrupted. Parents have to realize their role as parents and married people.
it's a different lifestyle. my opinion its the normal lifestyle and the best if the couple is sincere about their vows and responsibilities.
take the kids to the park, sit together, hold hands. that's quality time.

Answer 6

We did. We couldn't afford to pay a sitter most of the time and even if we could, we were too tired to get away anyway. When the kids were small, we STOLE time in small pieces for each other. We woke up early and had coffee and early morning sex. We snuck kisses in the laundry room. We had backrubs at bedtime. When the kids were small we had to really get creative to get alone time. Hang in there.

Answer 7

Definetly. Even when we get time alone and try not to even discuss them somehow it always goes back to them. It's annoying! Funny thing is that I'm a stay at home mom but HE's the one that brings them up! Oh for an evening of conversation that didn't involve talking about potty training.....*sigh*

Answer 8

I think moms and dads can still have quality time even with children around, it's all about how the management works.

Answer 9

Yes, we find it very difficult. But sometimeswe makea conscious decision to try to be alone without or toddler daughter. It takes some planning and most of the time I miss her but its wortht it.

Answer 10

Yes i do especially when i have stepchildren that are very jealous of our relationship,also we don't go out with all the kids together,because my kids don't get along with my spouse's kids.
jI never have any time alone with my spouse.My teenager won't watch my step kids because they don't behave.And it's to expensive to pay an outside baby-sitter.So we never get to go out or be alone.