Dating

[brokenbananas]

Does anyone date their spouse? If so, how long have you been married? How often do you date? Are they more casual dates or do you go all out? Is it always one person planning the date or do you take turns? How important is dating to your marriage?

My husband and I have been married for 4 yrs. We have 2 children, so it's been hard to date. We have 2 dates/month. I plan one and hubby plans the other. The date night is a surprise. And, once a year, each of us plans a date weekend where we go out of town. Some dates are casual, and others are dressier. Dating is very important to us to help us keep the spark. It's nice to have a surprise once a month. Gives one something to look forward to. Maybe as our children get a little older, we can go to weekly dates. I don't know. But, I really look forward to those dates as my husband, too. It's also fun thinking of neat things to do.

 

[GirlieGirl]

Not so far. But that sounds like lots of fun! Hope your marriage is being blessed tremendously by it.

 

[desi]

I try but its hard finding a consistent babysitter for 5. Even grandma finds excuses, and my kids are 'good'.

 

[HeatherJay]

Yeah, we have problems finding someone to keep the kiddies, too. They're good girls, but i don't feel safe leaving them with just anyone...maybe 2 people that I'd trust to keep them besides, Grandma. Also, I feel guilty asking them to do it often. We do TRY to go on at least 1 date a month, but that doesn't always happen. We usually just pick a movie that we both really want to see and go do that, dinner, a trip to the bookstore, and then home. I don't like to get home TOO late when the girls are with a sitter. If we both feel that we'd losing touch a little and 'missing' each other, then it's definitely time to plan a night alone.

I can't wait for Troy to open up...I really want to see that one with my hubby. Course, I'll have to control the strong desire to drool over Brad Pitt.

Love, Heather

 

[bkg]

Dating after marriage is the most important thing you can do, in my opinion. In fact, my argument is that courting must be "stepped up" after the wedding. It needs to be a priority.


I HIGHLY recommend the "Marriage on the Rock" series by Jimmy Evans. I'm listening to the CD's during teh commute and they are amazing. Wish I had known about them before divorce became a reality. Jimmy is very firm in this: God is first, marriage is second, kids are third. Period. that means making sure you have time away from the kids to work on your marriage every day. Seems almost impossible until you listen to his arguments... Well worth the investment.

 

[brokenbananas]

Thanks Bkg. I'll check out the series. I am sold on dating your spouse regularly. We all need time away from the kids. With one child, it was much easier. Now with two, and a high maintenance infant, very tough. However, even if just for a few hours, it's so nice to not have to worry about being thrown up on...having adult conversation...and not having to correct behaviors like...you cannot feed the plant!!! Please don't stab the dog with the fork....heehee

It does take work to date your spouse. Many things we take for granted. Something that I like when we go out on some of our dates, we prepare in separate bathrooms and it's really like he's going to come pick me up. It's so sweet and romantic. For those that don't do it, I highly recommend it!!!

 

[Mistyfogg]

Well, my husband and I don't have any kids, we just have two kitty-cats, does that count?? lol. We go on dates as much as possible. It is fun to go out to eat or out to the movies or drive-in. But our favorite thing is just to order some pizza and watch rented movies! I know that we will have our special date nights still after the time comes for us to have kids