Go out for just dessert

Oh, I almost forgot, another place for a good dessert experience is the chain of fondue restaurants called “The Melting Pot” – my sister and her husband loved the restaurant so much, they’re opening one in Durham, North Carolina! They do a range of chocolate fondues, and have a great wine selection (including champagne) as well as mixed drinks. Because it’s fondue, it’s a nice, slow process, so you actually get to talk to your spouse before the dessert is gone! I’ve been to the restaurant in Tucson, Arizona, and apparently there’s one opening in Boston too. I can’t wait!

Whitney I just love this idea. I hated the idea of having a “stranger” put my babies to bed. Leaving after they were asleep though is a great way to do it. And hey, anything that gets me dessert is a very good idea

Hi, a new reader to your site and although my three boys range in ages from 3 yrs to 15 years. As we have recently moved house and country, I am uncomfortable with a sitter putting my three year old down. So I love this desert idea and plan on trying it next week when I meet friends for dinner! Lisa (myfamilyjungle.com)

I’m so glad you shared this idea with mamas, especially new ones. Going out after my kids were in bed was the only way I’d get out, especially the first few years. We don’t have family in town and weren’t comfortable with sitters so we’d often have girls-night or guys-night out. Once we agreed that a couple’s night out was necessary (which took years!), we had sitters that would come after we put the kiddos to bed (thank goodness for early bedtimes!). Now, at 5 and 3 years old, we’re comfortable with someone else putting them to bed.

Sometimes, it’s nice to have date night at home too. We’ll order nice dinner in and rent a movie or just sit on our deck and enjoy a glass of wine together. It feels like a night out and saves us money so we can afford a sitter for events or nights we go out with other couples.

When my daughter was about 6 months old, I used this tactic to finally get back to the gym! But I definitely think a dessert night out is much better than the treadmill

We do this regularly, but without paying a sitter. A mom friend and I swap date nights. We both put our kids to bed, and the “sitter” heads over to the other house while dad stays home. The other couple goes out for dinner, desert, whatever. Our kids are now reliable-sleeping toddlers so it is really easy, but when they were babies it was a great comfort to know that if my son woke up, he would be cared for by someone he knows and who is on the same page in terms of handling sleep. Date nights have been key to everyone’s sanity, and this arrangement makes it easy on the budget too.