If you’ve got children that need looking after, a date night can seem a million miles away and Valentine’s day just doesn’t excite you anymore. There are still ways you can make your own home a little romantic retreat though, and this post aims to help you inject a little romance back into your life. All it takes is a little effort on both parts and hopefully, the children will stay asleep for you. Fingers crossed.
Set the scene
A few days before, make sure you start tying up loose ends, do those little jobs you’ve been meaning to do, get the washing done, and clear the living room and kitchen together so that you will be able to focus on each other without eyeing up that pile of ironing in the corner and the overflowing bin that needs emptying.
Get the provisions in
Grab a dine-in for two meal from your favourite supermarket or a takeaway if you don’t fancy cooking. This is all about relaxing together and reconnecting as a couple. Valentine’s day is as good an excuse as any for a romantic night in, but this works for any date night in you want to have.
Make a love list
Get your partner to write a love list, of what they want to get out of the date night. Be it physical touch, an emotional reconnection, massage, sex, box set bingeing, or pampering for example. Swap lists before the night and see what they have written. If you have vastly different lists, try and combine the two in a fun way, or talk about what you are going to prioritise. Try not to talk about the children, chores, finances, etc, and keep it fun and light, like you used to do.
Keep it cosy
Close the curtains, light lamps and candles and spread blankets and cushions around for a cosy, romantic vibe. Make sure the infrared panel heaters are powered up and keep things warm so you can undress if needed without getting cold if things get heated between you.
Date night ideas for staying in
Here are some ideas for you to theme the night:
- Have a Moroccan theme night with draped material, floor cushions, low tables, candles, incense, and Moroccan food
- Dress up for the night, wear your ball gown and black tie, get him to go out for half an hour and come and ‘pick you up,’ except he just comes in and you have a dinner and dance together at home
- Cinema night, you pick a movie and have movie snacks, a dark room, and pretend you’re at the cinema together
- Pizza-making night, you make the dough together, choose toppings and of course, eat it when you’re done
- Cocktail making night, get your favourite spirits and mixers in and try making different cocktails together and sampling the results
- Cupcake making and decorating together
- Painting lesson, either paint the same still life and compare results, or if you’re feeling brave, one of you poses nude whilst the other draws them
I hope that’s given you some inspiration to have a special night together, it can be hard when you’ve been together a long time and the children take all your energies, but if you make time to be together in different ways it will strengthen your bond.
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