Valentine’s Day is around the corner and that can evoke a whole range of emotions depending on your love- and family situation. And if you’re lucky enough to have met that special someone, it’s still not obvious that you are excited about February 14, and in that case, it may have something to do with you being an exhausted parent. But don’t let your children ruin your chances of romance this year!
Perhaps your idea of a perfect evening involves falling asleep on the couch in front of the TV with a bucket of ice cream on your lap, and perhaps you think that true love is about giving your partner what he or she needs (a good night’s sleep for example), but don’t forget that you both deserve something special once in a while. Whatever this “something special” may be is completely up to you, however. A romantic gesture doesn’t have to involve a bouquet of roses, champagne and a fancy dinner. It may be an old and worn-out expression, but for a good reason, because “it’s the thought that counts” definitely has a heavy meaning; especially when time and energy is limited.
Being romantic is all about doing what you like to do as a couple while adding that extra touch. Do you love watching movies? Make sure this time to do it together, without kids, with a bunch of candles, a bottle of wine and your favorite snack. Do you like to have dinner together, but have no time to cook and no energy to go to a restaurant? Then order a home delivered meal from your favorite place and play some romantic music in the background. Or take a bath together with candles and champagne. The point is, having a special Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be stressful, expensive or time consuming, but it doesn’t have to be like any other mediocre day either. It is just as important (if not more) to show some love and appreciation once you have kids together as it was on your first Valentine’s Days as a couple. The difference is that it’s almost impossible to set the same standards for your date nights as parents compared to back in the day when it used to be only about the two of you. So take the time to do something together, and remember that even the smallest gesture counts.
