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The Perfect Date for ParentsGetting out with small children can be difficult, and getting time to go out without them can be even more difficult. As a mother of three small children and a wife of seven years, I can tell you that keeping the romance alive in a marriage takes a lot of work and effort once you’ve drifted out of the honeymoon phase and into the world of diapers, crayons, early mornings and late nights. If neither of you are able to drive, or if one of you can but getting out isn’t an option, here are some tips to having a successful date at home that will keep both of you smiling and strengthen the bonds of the relationship. First of all, set a date. Give yourself time to get things together and give the two of you something special to look forward to in the coming days. For instance, if you have school age children that go to bed around eight, set the date for Wednesday at nine o’clock. You’ll be delighted how much the two of you will look forward to it, like we all did during the courting days. Just the anticipation of the upcoming event can lighten even the most difficult moment in a hectic day. When the evening arrives, give yourself time to prepare and put care into your appearance. Take a long shower and focus on what the night will bring. If you have a bathing routine, add a few treats to it like a pedicure and facial or use some of that after shave that drives her wild. Dress up just because you can, and because it is a date, after all. Style your hair, and if you’re a lady, put on a bit of make up. Even a little powder and lipstick can do a fine job of bringing out that feminine mystique, and for added sizzle, put on a favorite pair of heels. Decide on the menu. Do you want to prepare a lavish meal with the fine china, or would you prefer some hors d’devours by candle light as the two of you sit by one another on a blanket in the living room? My husband and I love cooking together and always have since we began dating, so often we’ll both decide on what sounds good and work together as a team to prepare it, enjoying each other’s help and company as we work side by side. Perhaps you have a patio and the warm spring weather is inspiring and makes you long to dine beneath the silent beauty of the moon? Do what ever you don’t do often, and what both of you would most enjoy. If you’re savvy in the kitchen, prepare a meal you’ve never tried before. Mushrooms and oysters have aphrodisiac qualities, so preparing appetizers like baked oysters or stuffed mushroom caps might bode well for later in the evening. Chocolate is also great for enhancing the mood, and a sensual dessert you won’t soon forget can be as simple as ripe strawberries dipped in luxurious chilled chocolate mousse. Plan an activity you don’t do very often together yet enjoy. Has it been a while since the two of you sat down together to watch a movie? Pick up a rental that had sparked your interest. Do you like dancing? Maybe put on something with a good beat that recalls the early days of the relationship and sets the mood? Grab your sweetheart and dance together in the living room cheek to cheek. You’ll forget about the worries of the day and find it impossible to think of anything but your beloved in your arms. Even snuggling up together to read some poetry or a book to each other can be a fine way to unwind after a hectic day and also helps digest the meal you’ve shared. Where you go from here is entirely up to you. Whether it’s a candlelit bath together, a lengthy sensual massage accompanied by a seductively scented oil and soft music, or laying on a blanket outside beneath the stars, you’ll be glad you took the time to recharge the relationship and rekindle the passion you have for your loved one.
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