We all know that dates nights are important to having a healthy marriage, but often times they get pushed aside because of our children.  According to Knot.com, a study was done by Harry Benson from the Marriage Foundation and Steve McKay from the University of Lincoln in which they observed 10,000 couples with a young child and proved that couples who went on dates once a month had higher odds of staying together versus those who went out more or less frequently.  

So, what we can conclude from this study is that dates once a month are vital to a healthy marriage! However, as a Mom with 3 kids even a date once a month seems daunting! Not just the stress of asking someone to watch our minions, but also affording a dinner or heaven forbid a movie!

My husband and I have come up with a compromise for having most of our dates at home after the kids have gone to bed. One of us is in charge of the meal (cooked or to-go) and the other has to pick an activity!  Here are a list of some of the activities that we have done!

Date Night In Ideas

Karaoke

I love singing, my husband not so much, but this was still a blast.  We like to play the Playstation game SingStar, but Youtube Karaoke would work great too!  I highly recommend going to the basement or somewhere away from the kids so you aren’t waking them up with your sweet skills though!

Harry Potter Scene It

Ok, any game would really work, but my husband and I are major Potter fanatics!  I’m proud to say he has only beaten me one time in our numerous battles, thus making me still the reigning champion in our home!  Find a game that you two can play and create some fun memories with!

Paintball fight

This idea has sadly been put on hold until the weather warms up again, but you can find at Walmart paintballs in different colors, all you need then are white t-shirts and the ability to go outside and get out all of your pent up aggression towards one another!  I see nothing but positives with this date night idea!

Questionnaire journal

One anniversary I bought us a journal full of prompts that you are supposed to write in each day, both of you filling out your own thoughts to what is suggested.  Well as to be expected we haven’t filled out a single day like you are supposed to, but it has made for a great date! We just sit down on the couch in front of the fireplace filling out the prompts and having a meaningful discussion over our thoughts.  Definitely a great bonding experience!

Movie Night

Definitely a classic, but how can you go wrong?  The only challenge with a good ole fashioned movie night is the struggle to stay awake, who knew having kids would make us so old!  In all seriousness though, I love snuggling up with my husband with no kids to ask 20 questions and watching a movie! Enjoy the ease of this date night for sure!

Often times as moms we are putting the needs of everyone else before our own, but our marriage definitely needs to be a priority in our lives.  I think it’s hard to remember that in just a few years the kids will all be grown and then you and your spouse will be all that is left at home, I don’t know about you but I don’t want to be alone with a stranger at that point!  I’m glad that we are finding a way to have consistent dates even if it means never leaving the house. There is a way to maintain a budget while strengthening our marriages to stand the test of time.