While this may not be feasible for every couple, thanks to close friends that live nearby (actually so close they’re considered grandparents), my wife I get a weekend with no kids! Uninterrupted dinners, movies in one sitting, sleeping in, going out with other couples and not having to entertain the kids while we wait for our food.
Thank you Nana and Papa G. for loving and taking care of our kids.
This week’s question:
How often should a couple have a kidless weekend?
As always, post your response in the comments section.
Bonus question: Ideas how you and your spouse would spend a kidless weekend?
Maybe my wife and I will try out some of your ideas. I look forward to the discussion. See you in the comments below.
Corey is the editor of Simple Marriage as well as a licensed marriage & family therapist. While he has a Ph.D. in Family Therapy, he only occasionally likes to be called doctor. If you enjoyed this post, please subscribe so you don't miss any future posts.No related posts.
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{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
We were hopeless at this when we first had our kids, but by the time I was having the third we realized something had to change. I think everyone should do it 2-3 times a year, at least. On our first weekend away we went clothes shopping for my husband. It’s something we rarely do, and never do together in a leisurely way, which made it really fun. *If finding a sitter is not feasible, try giving each other a kid-less weekend; my husband is famous for taking the kids to his mom’s every few months so I can have a quiet house to myself.
I think that couples should have time together that fits their lives – in terms of time commitments, finances, and friendship.
My husband and I are incredibly good at getting along with each other on a daily basis. We don’t have struggles in our friendship or our sex life, so I don’t think we need as much time without kids as some couples might need.
This is good, since we have just moved to a new town away from family. The option to go away for a weekend (or even to stay at home with the kids gone) is just not one for us right now.
But we get our time together through coffee every single morning and through watching Heroes online.
All in all, I think that couples need to think about their own situations and determine what works for them and to not feel like there’s a standard they need to meet because other people are doing it or a book says they should.
@The Wife- Great idea for a kidless weekend by yourself. There are times when an empty house for a few days would be a great gift. Way to go donkey!
@Sarah- Coffee every morning is great. Perhaps my wife will one day be old enough to enjoy a cup of coffee with me rather than her orange juice.
Forget a kidless weekend. I’d just like a kidless 2 hours. It’s tough when you have 2 *babies* and no relatives close by.
I have only had a couple of kidless weekends and they were organised because two of my best friends were getting married quite a distance away and I ahd to beg my dad to babysit. But I did manage a 5 day holiday with my husband 18 months ago while my mum had my son, but it wasn’t that great because we were having marital problems at the time and there was a lot that needed to be sorted out. I think we were exhausted by the time we got back from our ‘holiday’. Too emotionally traumatic.
But I will have my 10 year wedding anniversary this year and we are planning on4 days in the tropics by the pool with cocktails and a plush room with s King size bed and a spa. The only activities I’m interested in are eating, drinking, swimming and red hot romance. If you’re going to take time away from the kids, I think that’s what you need. Couple time. A space to be the man and woman that fell in love all those years ago. No responsibilities. No dramas. Just togetherness.
Fingers crossed it’ll work out that way this time.
Kelly
@Kelly- “No responsibilities. No dramas. Just togetherness.” Love it. My wife and I just got back from the tropics last month. The only drama, should we go to breakfast now, or later? Sit by the pool or the ocean? Blessings on your trip to the tropics.
@Dustin- Sounds like you may look forward to bedtimes each night. Hopefully you can find some time in the evenings for yourself and your spouse.
Kid-less week-ends are a must for couple´s and personal rest, connection and rejuvenation. I would say that at least one week-end a month is necessary. But it doesn´t have to be the whole week-end (if possible, great!), but my wife and I are lucky that my parents take our kids from Friday evening till Saturday afternoon sometimes. That way, we can go out Friday night, sleep later on Saturday and then have a nice brunch at home or at some nice hotel or restaurant. We feel more attached to each other after such week-ends.
Many blessings,
Art Gonzalez
Check my Squidoo Lens at: Quantum Knights
Ok on one of our kidless weekends, we stayed home and grilled hotdogs in the chiminea (sp?) then we made smores. After all that we threw a quilt on the trampoline and went for it! he he he. It was fun!!!
Excellent timing on this post! Our baby is now 5 weeks old, and my sister-in-law is going to babysit for a few hours tomorrow. Haven’t given that much thought to what we’re going to do with ourselves during this sudden, brief time of freedom.
I’ll be looking over everyone’s answers for ideas!
@Laurie- I guess it was good that you didn’t cookout while on the trampoline. Could have been a disaster.
@evil dad- A few hours away from a 5 week old. The best advice I’ve got for this is to try and avoid talking about the 5 week old and talk about each other. Enjoy the freedom!
We’ve NEVER had a kidless weekend and don’t really long for one. We often get up early and run to Home Depot on a Saturday morning and leave the 3 kids home (yes, the oldest is 17 and the next one is 12…no safety issues here), stopping for breakfast at McD’s along the way. It doesn’t break the bank and we truly enjoy each other’s company. Like Sarah Chia pointed out, it works for us and always has.