Date Nights At-Home with the One You Love

Remember Date Night?

We asked Real Moms of children with special needs to help us out with suggestions for At-Home Date Nights.

Dinner & Movie, No problem!

Dinner and movie after kids go to bed. ONDemand makes this possible! Body massages…might even lead to something else. ~ Jessica S.

Feed each Other

Cooking together and feeding each other can be very sensual. Think ripe peaches and strawberries dipped in chocolate for dessert. Follow with massages for both… ~ Jamie B.

Enjoy a Picnic

A carpet picnic with a little candlelight.~Claire D.

“Vacation” Surprises

I used to plan little “vacation” surprises. For example, I transformed our basement into “Hawaii” with decorations, music, a blanket picnic spread out with food and tropical drinks and met him wearing a bikini top, a lei, and a grass skirt. We kept the baby monitor on so we could make sure baby was ok, but it gave us a nice “getaway” and didn’t cost much money or require a babysitter! That was back when I had more energy! LOL! ~ Lorinda G.

Related: Staycation Was the Ultimate Vacation

Get a Wii!!

As silly as this sounds, we got a Wii! OMG, my husband and I have a blast bowling and competing in games, and having a few drinks. It really feels like we are out and not just sitting around watching T.V. It is a free night without worrying about the kids! I love it! ~ Karly C.

Pizza by Candlelight

It’s the little things that really add up…pizza by candlelight, making a favorite dessert, breaking out trivia games, and movie nights. Leave sticky notes on mirrors or computer screens. It’s hard finding and trusting a sitter, so we have to squeeze in our moments when our kiddos are content or after they fall asleep.~ Doris M.

Change the Mood

Steal moments wherever you can. Plan so you can make it a special evening at home…change the mood so you can transition from mom to wife. Put some music that takes you back to the time when you where dating, make a special meal (not complicated… just meaningful or different) or get take out. My kids have lots of sensory stuff and eat very few things. Once they are in bed, I’ll make an exotic meal (sometimes frozen or with the help of a pre-made sauce) put some music and have a Thai or Indian dinner by candlelight. Also, I can visit hubby at work and take him to lunch when kids are in school. Try waking up one hour earlier (or half) and watch the sunrise together. Make it a priority and that will give you more energy and recharge your batteries! ~ Paula D.

Keep it Simple

Put the kids down with a good movie, have a sitter or get a baby camera. Have a dinner with candles outside. Simple: your home, but not inside. ~ Rebecca G.

WORTH SHARING

Creating a support group in your local area or use the one you have to make a sitter chain. Once a week take turns sitting with the children. That way, once a week people in the group could have a date night and have the peace of mind knowing their child is being kept by a friend that also has a special needs child. ~ Megan M.

Any more suggestions to add to At-Home Date Nights? Please Share

Helpful Articles

• Date Night Ideas for Exhausted Parents
• Date Nights At-Home with the One You Love
• “Back-To-School” Can Also Be “Back-To-Romance” for Special Needs Couples
• The Vows of Special Needs Parents
• Respite: Take a Break to Recharge
• 11 Reasons Why You Should Try Mindfulness Meditation and How to Do It!
• What Is Emotional Intelligence and Why Is It so Important?
• Tech for Developing Mental Strength for Life’s UPS and Downs
• Journal Writing Can Help You to Reconnect with Yourself
• Art Therapy: How It Works, the Benefits, How to Start
• Tips to Make Valentine’s Day a Gift to All

This post originally appeared on our January/February 2011 Magazine