Smart Mothers Know That…

Even If Your Budget’s Tight You Can Still Date Your Mate

It’s easy to fall into the family trap, where kids are number one, and most of your energy is directed at taking care of your children and keeping family harmony. True family harmony comes when the mother and father still share a fondness for each other.

Yes, it takes time, effort and a little bit of planning to rekindle the ol’ spark. Moms and dads need to take time away from the kids to reconnect. At first you’ll feel like you’re just going through the motions, but once you get out and realize that you’re on a real date again you’ll truly have a wonderful time.

The Happy Hour Date

Most of our budgets are these days; so going out to a nice restaurant probably isn’t in the cards. But that doesn’t meant that you can’t still go out and have a rocking time.

There are dozens of places that offer inexpensive drinks and food for happy hour. Do a search for some near by restaurants who offer happy hour.

My hubby and I enjoy happy hour because it’s early enough for us to still go out, grab food and drink and be home in time to put the kiddos to bed. How cool is that? No worrying if the sitter put the diaper on tight enough or if she remembered to brush their teeth. It’s fun to come home to the kids shouting, “Hi mommy and daddy, you’re home!” Happy hour dates are my favorites. It’s affordable, early and family friendly.

My hubby and I were out a Mexican restaurant making the most of our two hours we had on the clock. All our smooching and hugging made the waiter think that we weren’t married! Didn’t he see our wedding rings? Normally waiters only see people who are still dating behave that way. But believe me, when our kids are not around and if we are away from home, I can’t help but remember how great it was to date my mate.

Those days of gazing in each other eyes are over if the kids are around. Parents now revel in the eye gazing with their children. So you can see why mommies and daddies need to get away. The mama-dada eye gazing should never end.

Other great stories you should read:

Kimberley Clayton Blaine is the author of the Go-To Mom books series. She is a national parenting expert and a licensed Family and Child Therapist who specializes in working with children ages newborn to six years old. Kimberley is the founder and executive producer of a grassroots webshow, called www.TheGoToMom.TV. Kimberley is a national speaker and teaches Early Childhood Brain Development and Positive Discipline Strategies at UCLA Extension Education. . Kimberley’s new book comes out this fall, The Go-To Mom’s Parenting Guide to Emotion Coaching Young Kids.”