4 Amazing date night ideas for new parents
There is a fear in new parents that their romantic life comes to an absolute full stop once a child is born. But that doesn’t have to happen at all, and as soon as you feel like you’re getting into a routine that doesn’t feel right for you – change it up! Of course, your child will be the most important thing in your life and family nights will soon become a regular, but you are allowed to make time for yourselves. Here are some ways you can spend those precious few hours while your sister takes care of the kids:
Something you did when you met
What used to be your thing when you first met? Was it a dinner and a movie, going to see a play or walking in the park with a to-go cup of coffee? Going back to what used to be your favourite activity will remind you of where you started and it will make sure that you’re not losing your fire. Especially if it’s been a long time since you went out on that kind of date, this will take years off you.
Now, remember – it’s not going to be like going back in time: You’ve matured and you’re probably going to be talking about your kid, but don’t think of that as not having fun. You’re not supposed to completely forget about your home life when you go out. Just like all those years ago, when you were talking about the things that were current in your life then, talk about things that are on your mind now.
It’s the perfect way to relax and realize that while things have changed, you two are still in love and can have fun on your own.
Calm night in
If you’re busy parents, you’re probably exhausted and you might not feel like going out at all. This is the time for a night in. Try to get your kids to a friend or family member’s house to have the place to yourselves, because if you’re waiting for the kids to be in bed, you will probably be too tired to do anything.
So, once the house is quiet and it’s just the two of you, cook a nice meal (you haven’t had adult food in a while, have you?) or order in, have a peaceful dinner and then do something fun. Whether that’s watching your favorite show, snuggled up in front of the TV, playing some board games or heating things up in the bedroom, use the time to have fun and relax.
It’s not a bad idea to keep a list of all the things you wanted to do at some point but couldn’t because of the little ones, so you’re never out of inspiration.
Visit a craft brewery
Going out with your kids can be a lot of fun, but there are some things that are reserved only for adults: for example, going to a craft brewery to try some amazing brews. Especially if you live in a place like Australia where there are a lot of different breweries and beers to try.
You can even make this your monthly night out and visit a different brewery every time, or pair it up with other food and drink tastings. It will make you feel like adults again, because swimming in plushies, diapers and baby food at home probably took some of that away.
Gallery crawl
Want to feel more like an adult than you would just getting drunk on good alcohol? How about some actual culture? Look up several galleries and museums around town and plan out your gallery crawl. If you put some time into looking up exhibits and events, you can plan a date when there are several things you actually want to see and have an even better time.
If you don’t want to exclude your kid, you can look up kid-friendly museums and take them along with you, as long as they are old enough not to make a mess out of the art.
I don’t have to tell you that having a kid will change your life, you already know that. But it doesn’t have to change who you are, how you have fun and how you interact with your SO. Keep being in love and spending time together – both with your kid and alone – and you are sure to be a happy family.
