Stay at home date nights

[MissTwiggley]

We don't really have anyone who can reliably take the kids so that we can have a date night and I have no interest in hiring someone to stay here either. This brings me to stay at home date nights! I'd still love to do something special with DH every Friday night. The best I can come up with is take out and a movie on netflix, but surely there are better ideas?

[turquoisecoast]

we are largely in the same boat so following along keenly. that said, i did have a girl over for a chat and a bit of a trial the other day. she seemed good, kids warmed to her (ds not so much but he will get there). i really feel we need special time/date nights otherwise it’s just a relentless stream of the same thing every day. i do struggle with the idea of having it feel special at home. i keep getting distracted with things i see that need doing etc.

[Mum-I-Am]

There are a few companies that do date night boxes with fun activities (the one I know of closed in December)

Board game and cheese platter
Picnic in the backyard
Order a little project - pottery or painting.

What do you like doing?

[babyno1onboard]

Do you have a pool? We do late night swims.

[turquoisecoast]

i just googled stay at home date nights and this list came up. i’ve had a bit of a titter at some of them as they’re a bit silly (turn your bedroom into a hotel room haha) but you get the idea.

https://www.happilyeveradventures.co...e-night-ideas/

the paint and wine idea is pretty cool. i reckon dh would be down for that actually.

[BornToBe]

I like the idea of cooking something luxe or super spicy together that the kids would hate. Definitely some wine and music too. I think it's a great idea to stay connected

[hakuna matata]

We do home date nights quite often. Either cook or get food from a restaurant the kids don’t normally eat.
I bought a few new card games which we enjoy.
Massage night
Cocktail night
DH has started joining me in self care Sunday and has a face mask with me

[BigRedV]

We had nobody either. We paid a babysitter when absolutely needed. When our kids were younger we had an early bed time for them. I’m talking between 6-7:30. We used to make the most of that time in the evening together at home just reconnecting.

It does get better. Now our kids are older, we can leave them at home alone for short periods and go for a walk together etc. I’ve thought about leaving the kids and going to the pub for a quiet drink on a Sunday arvo together but we haven’t. It still feels wrong and I haven’t even suggested it to DH. I don’t really drink but it’s just a nice idea.

[MissTwiggley]

I love all of these - thank you! And that link is full of great ideas, tc!

I'm relieved to know that others are in the same boat. It seems like everyone around me has that help and it just feels isolating.

@Mum-I-Am, we don't have any specific interests that we share, so I think that's why I'm struggling.

[MissTwiggley]

Do you have a pool? We do late night swims.

No we don't. I love this idea though. Maybe next house.