Think retainers are just for fancy folks like the legal counsel of large corporations? Well, I think if you have a wobbler or toddler at home that they’re for YOU.
Find a caring person you can trust and schedule a regular date-night. I know one family that pays their evening sitter a set amount each month and then plans enough dates to burn through the hours. That’s what I’m talking about!
Truth be told, I think the cost of a babysitter feels pretty freaking expensive when you think of what it used to cost to go see a movie and grab dinner. Or just to have a picnic and hike alone with your mate. And that’s not even factoring in a fancy dinner.
And it stings a little extra to write a check or fork over the $$ if I let myself think she may have spent the whole evening watching American Idol on TiVo while my two little angels slept peacefully… but that’s the wrong way to think about it.
The right way to think about it is to consider date-night and associated childcare a regular and essential part of each month. Budget for it like you do any other essential expense. And just hope it will save you on therapy later.
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YES! I think this is a fabulous suggestion. Who knows, it probably will save us on therapy later — and in the meantime I didn’t have to pay $150 simply for the suggestion. Thanks Heather
I like your perspective on date night. My husband, our 28 month-old and myself live in my parents house along with my sister. This means we’re a bit crowded, and we have several babysitters on hand, often with little notice. I was thinking about the excitement while dating to see eachother everyday and wondered if married couples lose that. I’ve discovered that we’re blessed to see eachother everyday and that as the weeks go by we start needing real alone time. We get a date about once a month. It doesn’t seem like much but we also get family outtings together and those are fun too since we’re usually in a house of 6 total coming and going.
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