When you become a parent, your social life completely changes. You and your partner might have gone out to bars and restaurants every weekend before your little one was born. But the truth is, babysitters are hard to come across and are expensive. That being said, making a conscious effort to celebrate Valentine’s Day is extremely important for couples.
And yet you don’t have to head out on the town for an exhausting and expensive evening. There are plenty of ways you can celebrate this loving holiday at home. Here are a few ideas for your romantic night in:
Kick back and order in
Sometimes the last thing couples want to do is cook an extensive meal. Instead of wasting a portion of the night on your feet in the kitchen, order in! Feed your kids, and put them to bed, then order some of you and your partner’s favorite takeout. Keep it casual and eat the food in the containers so you don’t even have to do dishes at the end of the evening. Kick up your feet and chow down on the couch. You may have forgotten how much you love a comfy night in the house. You won’t have to dress up or deal with the large Valentine’s Day crowds.
In addition, you won’t have to be stressed out about leaving your little one at home with a family member or babysitter. You can still have the baby monitor on while you two enjoy your quiet evening together.
Have a movie night
When’s the last time you and your partner enjoyed a movie together? Since the baby came, the television probably hasn’t gotten turned on in a while, and you almost definitely haven’t had time to see a movie in the theater. Now is the time to catch up on the flicks you haven’t seen. Both of you can pick out a movie you want to see, so each person will get a say in the matter. Start early, and you can watch both films. Make some popcorn, and grab some snacks to enjoy a low-key evening with the person you love.
Enjoy a nice film with your partner.
Have a board game night
Can you remember the last time you played Monopoly or Clue? However, you probably don’t have a whole lot of downtime now that you have children. Well, time to bring those games back out! Enjoy a fun yet competitive game night with your partner. In addition, raise the stakes: The loser of the evening has to make dinner or do the dishes tomorrow.
The weather may be too frightful to head outside for camping, but that doesn’t mean you have to miss out. Roast some marshmallows over the stove to make delicious s’mores. Light up the fireplace (or if you don’t have one, put up a video of a crackling fire to get that ambiance). Swap stories on the living room floor. You’ll feel like you are back at summer camp with your favorite person.
