How to Keep Romance Alive on a Budget, After Children

After having children many of us wonder how we will ever get the fire in our relationships that it once had. With children waking at all hours of the night, or just keeping us on our toes all day, it makes it very difficult to put energy into something that may seem unnecessary.

On the other hand, do you really want to be one of those couples that neglects your partners, and your own needs? It may not seem that way at first, but if you let it go, over time it will degrade to a point where it will need either a severe boost or something more severe.

Suggestion one: buy a pack of post it notes.

Everyone needs an ego boost now and then, you are going to give them one. Start off by thinking of things you partner has done that you appreciate, write down on several pages (one per page), what you would like to say about each thing. It may be nothing more than a smile they gave you after dinner. But anything you write will be special. Then you can either hide it in a spot that they will find, or put it in their lunch. having them find it in a place when they are least expecting something like this, would make them think of you in a time when they might not otherwise have done so.

Suggestion two: feed the kids an early dinner.

Have the kids eat dinner earlier than normal (or the parents eat later). Make special kid friendly foods, than either put them to bed or have them watch a movie in their room). After the children are secured away, sit down to an earlier prepared adult meal, enjoy time just the two of you. Discuss things you wouldn't normally in front of the children, or even things you would, but might get interrupted while talking about.

The point to these two suggestions, is attention. It has been said by the Dalai Lama that affection is something no human can live without. So in order to live happily affection, and attention are key. As a parent you may feel that the only attention you receive is from people that do not love you in the same manner as your partner.

Alone time is hard to achieve with young children, but even half an hour will do wonders for your relationship. Popping some popcorn, and watching TV while snuggling on the couch may not be an exciting adventure, but it will help you attain a closeness that you may not have had before.

These are just a few of the many things you can do to bring some romance back, and they are only the starting points for bigger things. Which might be visited in a further article.