3 Tips For an At Home Date Night
This post is sponsored by Foster Farms®. The opinions and text are all mine.
Date nights can be tricky when you have two little kids at home. Any parent knows the hurdles it can take to find babysitters, time, and even energy to get out of the house on a consistent basis. It is way too easy to fall into a place of “survival parenting” where you are simply trading off responsibilities and getting through the day to that finish line when kids are asleep and you can finally rest. If you're like me you may be so exhausted at that point that the only connection you want is with your couch and TV. The problem is that I feel more tired in the long run if I don’t take time to connect with my husband. It might feel hard to show up when I’m tired but I have never left a date night thinking “I wish I had just watched TV”. I find that it leaves me feeling filled up in a much needed way and I am always thankful we made the investment in our relationship. Justin and I started scheduling “at home date nights” and it’s made all the difference. If you're struggling with getting that date night on the calendar then here are a few tips that might help.
1.Keep it casual- Date night does not mean that you have to put a ton of work into the evening. I’m not talking rose’s and fancy dinners. Our favorite kind of date night is one where I grab a few bags of Foster Farms® Take Out Crispy Wings and we catch up on our day sitting by our fire table on the back deck. It goes a long way to keep the focus on time together as opposed to creating a perfect romantic evening. There is something about the crispy, juicy buffalo style wings that sets me at ease after a long day and makes it easy to pave the way for relaxing conversation. It may sound cliché but it sends me back to when I was younger hanging out in a restaurant with friends, and I can easily switch from snack making, diaper changing, Barbie playing “Mom” to someone hanging out with her best friend enjoying wings by the fire.
We really love Foster Farms Wings because they taste like restaurant quality but we don’t have to leave the house. The savory dipping sauces on the side are amazing, and I usually grab a variety of flavors like Classic Buffalo and Sweet Chipotle BBQ. They are easy to grab at Publix in the freezer aisle and we usually have an extra bag or two on hand for the big game, or if we end up entertaining friends at the last minute. Foster Farms Wings are so easy to throw in the oven that they take all the stress out of prepping for a date night at home. It’s even less effort than taking the time to order out! If setting up for your date night feels stressful you're likely to do it less often. If you keep it casual and easy you will have one less excuse to not put it on the calendar! Of course if you want to make that fancy meal, get all dressed up and light the candles from time to time, go for it! Just make sure it doesn't become a pressure filled expectation that keeps you from connecting all together.
2. Keep it consistent- The most important relationship in our lives deserves to be prioritized right? Try to get a date night at least once a month if not once every week. My husband and I try to do 2-3x a month so we have a few protected evenings on the calendar where we know we will have time to really connect in the midst of life’s busyness and chaos! It makes all the difference and gives me something to look forward to!
3.Plan for barriers- If it’s on the calendar do what you can to protect your date night. Plan to go to bed a little early the night before so you're rested! Start bedtime a half hour early for your kids. Think of the things that “usually go wrong” or make it difficult to connect and do your best to plan for them. When you know the hurdles are coming you can be ready to jump over them rather than getting knocked over!
I hope these tips can help you find the time and space to connect with your spouse! I hope your wings are crispy, your conversation is refreshing and your time together is sweet!
Xo,
Kelly
