How to do Valentine’s Day when you have a child.
Celebrating Valentine’s day as a new parent is bound to be different.
Of course it’s nice to be surprised by gifts or romantic gestures, but when you’re a busy tired parent somethings need planning!
Here are some things to help you bring some romance to your day:
❤️ Give your partner time off vouchers
When you become parents everything becomes more time pressured. Time can be the most perfect gift!
Whether it’s for a lie in, or a weekend afternoon off, can you give each other a voucher for some time off to enjoy old hobbies, or just sleep! Sometimes the greatest gift is to have some time on your own. Not very romantic, but it can help you properly rest to have some breathing space
❤️ Spending quality time together
Actual connection time, not watching tv or looking at a phone. This is harder to do than ever before because we have so much information and entertainment available to us.
Also it’s hard to create conversations when you don’t feel full of energy, but perhaps have your dinner together, and think of some questions to ask each other, not related to the children:
- What was the best thing that happened to you this week?
- Where would you go on holiday if we won the lottery?
- What do you think about what’s going on in the news?
❤️ Speak each other’s love language
Forget roses and flowers, think of what your partner would really like. Sometimes it’s vacuuming the stairs, doing some ironing or fixing that broken door that always bangs!
It can be simple things like cleaning up and ordering a takeaway so no-one needs to cook.
❤️ Write love notes
Find ways to show your appreciation of your partner through small notes in their lunchbox, wallet or car.
❤️ Be flexible with the date
If you can’t make it work on 14th February, then pick another date and re-imagine it’s Valentine’s Day. Besides, sometimes there is too much pressure put on this one single day and maybe an ongoing show of connection and gratitude works best for you.
❤️ Broaden your definition of Love Day
With older children you can make Valentine’s cards for grandparents, or friends. it’s not just couples who can enjoy Valentine’s Day.
With a little imagination you can celebrate Valentine’s day as a new parent in a realistic way, that still keeps you both connected and builds your family.
