Wine, candlelight, and passion are essential for an unforgettable Valentine\u2019s Day\u2013but when you\u2019re a parent, it\u2019s hard to make time for romance.<\/p>\n
After your baby is born, your priorities shift. Date night is just a memory when you\u2019ve got to adjust to the emotional, physical, and financial changes in your life. \u201cMy husband and I were like bunnies before we had a baby. But after having our first child, months would go by and we would have no sex. I started to feel unattractive, lonely, and unloved,\u201d says one BabyCenter.com<\/a> member. \u201cI talked to him about it, and he admitted to not being in the mood because he was worrying about our finances. It was draining him physically and emotionally.\u201d<\/p>\n Put aside the spit up and sippy cups for Riesling and a rendezvous with these tips for keeping the romance alive after baby!<\/p>\n Plan a date \u201cnight\u201d\u2013and stick to it.<\/strong><\/span> Keep flirting.<\/strong><\/span> Set a regular bedtime.<\/strong><\/span> Communicate early and often.<\/strong><\/span>
\nAsk grandma and grandpa, godparents, or a trusted friend to keep your little one for an hour or two so that you can have some alone time\u2013or just wait until the kids are asleep. Date night can be as simple as a living room picnic or Netflix and chill. \u201cMy husband makes it a point for us to have date night at least two times per month,\u201d says one mom on MyAutismTeam.com<\/a>. \u201cSometimes we only go out for pie and coffee. It\u2019s not much, but it makes me feel like a million bucks<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\u201cNo, you hang up.\u201d \u201cOn three, hang up. 1..2\u20263\u2026you still there?\u201d Remember the early stages of your relationship, when you couldn\u2019t wait to see each other? Keep the lovey dovey feelings going by flirting with your partner. Treat him or her to romantic text messages, love notes, and emails. Judy, a mom of five says, \u201cMy husband and I have five children, so we never have much time to ourselves. To keep romance in our lives, we send each other emails talking about our desires. It\u2019s easier to be intimate at night if the thoughts have been floating around in our minds during the day.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nBath, book, and bed still works. The same routine that helped your 3 month old go to sleep still works. Having a designated bedtime for your children leaves more time for you two to reconnect. Kiss the kids good night and spend time together. DaddyVents and I like to enjoy a glass of wine and catch up on our favorite shows<\/a> after the boys are asleep.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cDiscuss the challenges you are each facing as you create your new life, warn each other if you are having a rough day and find creative ways to support each other through it all! \u201d blogger Paula Rollo tells Happy Wives Club<\/a>. Life is different now, and it\u2019s easy to feel stressed. Feeling overwhelmed? Tired? Lonely? Talking about what you\u2019re going through now means less frustration later.<\/p>\n