Date Nights

Something that I was completely unprepared for as my kids get older is how hard it is to find "couple time".  Matt and I love to go on date nights - we try to go out at least once a month.  It doesn't always happen, but we look forward to that time.  But we also enjoy just hanging out together in the evenings after the kids are in bed.  That used to be an easy task....throw the kids in bed (maybe even a tad early - they couldn't read the clock anyway!) and have the whole evening to ourselves.  Now, as a freshman in high school and a seventh grader, the oldest two aren't buying it!  They can read a clock now (thankfully) and they want to stay up later on the weekends and watch their own movie or play a game with us.  That leaves a very small (and sometimes nonexistent) window to have couple time.  We still love to hire a sitter -- a senior in college who has been babysitting for us for 12 years -- and go out.  The sitter is for the little kids, but also to calm our hearts so we know they are safe and not fighting with each other.  She's been around us for so long that I no longer have to even give her instructions or set out PJs.  She walks in the door and we walk out... totally at peace that the kids are going to have a ball, be well fed, and go to bed happy and on time.  Ahhhh.   It's good to still crave time with your man after 18 years of marriage.  I do love him and loving having time with him!