8 HOO’s INSPIRED
Wise Choices for You & Your Family
Finding Time
Love
Finding time for your love after having kids can be
difficult. I recall when it was just the two of us and
every free moment was spent in each other’s gaze.
We filled weekends and holidays with exciting
road trips, saw every new movie and ate like a king
and queen. I felt butterflies when his name would
light up my phone and looked forward to holding
hands during car rides. Fast forward to three years
in with our son, and we are both guilty of leaving
our relationship on the sidelines. Life happens and
raising a child is exhausting. Some families have
many children to juggle and finding time for your
relationship can seem impossible. Here are a few
suggestions I’ve tried to implement into my daily life
to keep my relationship alive and remind my spouse
how much he means to me:
Waking up early: This may be a hard one,
but if your love wakes up earlier than the rest of the
household, get up too. The mornings are often very
peaceful and listening to only the sound of the coffee
machine is a great time to discuss casual topics. Plus,
we are usually refreshed from a good night’s sleep
and have energy for discussions.
Recurring date night: Family can be an
unreliable date night sitter, so create a relationship
with a babysitter who can be available every month
(first Saturday of the month, perhaps). We’ve found
it helpful to trade date nights with a family friend.
With the trade, we don’t pay out for a sitter and our
kids can play with one another. Remember, you can
spend a date night at home, peacefully watching a
movie and eating Dairy Queen (sounds nice, right?).
Show Affection: Send love text messages
regularly, even just a heart emoji or “I love you.” It
never gets old, and it’s nice to hear. If you don’t get
up with your love in the morning, leave a note on the
door or steering wheel. It’s a great way to start a day.
I’ve been working on meeting my spouse at the door
when he gets home from work for a guaranteed hug
and kiss.
Add to Your Routine: Just like you wash
your kids’ faces and brush their teeth every evening,
add time with your significant other as a necessity
every evening. This could be the half hour your
children watch TV, or 5 minutes after they go to bed.
The time is worth it to “check-in,” talk, cuddle or play
a quick game of Scrabble.
Share Your Routine: We all have chores,
and oftentimes chores can be a harsh subject in a
relationship. Use laundry, dishes and evening cleanup
as an opportunity to help one another and work
together.
Be Aware of Phone Usage: The amount of
time I sit in silence with my other half as I tap away on
the phone is embarrassing. Create “no phone zones”
like the bed or dinner table. I waste so much time on
my phone during car rides when we could be having
enjoyable conversations with one another.
Relationships are constant work.
They are changing and evolving as we grow. Taking
the few extra steps can make all the difference.
Work extra hard to correct those “peeves” that are
a constant struggle in your relationship. Spend time
admiring your spouse’s face and giving genuine
compliments on a regular basis. Grab your significant
other’s favorite candy bar at the grocery check-out
line. Little gestures can go a long way.
Visit our website FamilyandKidsGA.com and
click on GUIDES to find our local date night
recommendations and additional relationship
advice.
FOR AFTER
KIDS
By Maria Phillips, Family & Kids
/FamilyandKidsGA.com