tips to keep your kids from wrecking your marriage is written in partnership with Netflix
The theory that kids wreck a marriage was recently put to the test. We ALL HAVE them-those friends who are blissfully wedded sans kids and when my husband and I recently went out with said couple who have been married for ten years and have decided to forgo having kids- well dare I say- it was quite an illuminating experience.
Let me set the scene for you.
This couple walks in, and the woman begins to regale me with the events of her week; she just spent the day getting a massage, a facial and a manicure- which she does on a weekly basis, she's also taking a pottery class at nights and just enjoyed a lovely lecture series. She's emanating this serene aura that simultaneously makes me want to be her and want to slap her. Then the husband begins to tell us about a two-week vacation they're planning to Italy (a place my husband and I would give our right arms to visit on a romantic retreat sans kids) and that they have all this extra space in their Manhattan apartment that they're converting into an art studio for his wife.
At this point I'm vacillating between salivating and coveting their luxurious child-free existence, the fact that they have oodles of free time to explore their artistic sides, to pamper themselves and to travel with no consequences other than having to decide what type of white wine will go best with their dinner. Then they cavalierly ask what new plays, movies, restaurants my husband and I have been to. And of course all I can think of is the corner pizzeria where they have a color TV that plays SpongeBob on a constant loop, so my son doesn't complain how bored he is after he finishes his pizza. Oh and then I tell them the last movie we saw was The Trolls. The woman laughs and then says in a bit of a patronizing tone (or maybe I am just projecting my feelings into her sentiments), “Oh that must have been so cute,”.
At this point I really need my husband to restrain me from either strangling her or overdosing on vodka to drown out how the reality of how utterly hum-drum and boring our marriage has become and how our once exciting social life has deteriorated to being punctuated by a smurfs and pizzeria outing.
But of course marriage with kids is a completely polar opposite experience than marriage without kids. My husband and I chose to bring these two little souls into the world– although I don't think we were prepared for just how much their existences would hijack the intimacy of our marriage. I also don't think my husband and I do enough to ensure that while we may not be able to jet off to Italy on a moments notice or drink as much wine as we'd like with dinner-we can institute certain practices in 2020 to recapture a bit of our pre-kids, just the two of us magic that this childless couple was so clearly intoxicated and rife with.
So here are my tips to keep your kids from wrecking your marriage
tips to keep your kids from wrecking your marriage
Make a bucket list of things you and your husband want to do (kid-free)
Before the end of 2020 commit to getting a least quarter of them done! Find a new Netflix favorite, from romantic comedies to award-nominated hits on NETFLIX. Order in Chinese food, and grab your boo and settle in on the couch with some steamed dumplings and prosecco and indulge in a movie marathon of romantic classics. Some of my favorites that you can watch on NETFLIX ( which I would highly recommend)
Behind every great love is a great story. Rebellious Mickey and good-natured Gus navigate the thrills and agonies of modern relationships in this bold comedy co-created by Judd Apatow.
Twenty years after graduation, a tight-knit group of college friends reconnects and discovers that love hasn't gotten easier with age.
This eclectic, star-studded anthology follows diverse Chicagoans fumbling through the modern maze of love, sex, technology and culture.
And if you want to hightail it to the boudoir Netflix goes with you, with the which you can Download today at no extra cost.
Tag team
Take turns handing off childcare to one another, And in your free time pursue a passion- take a class, get a massage, allow yourself a block of time to feel and be child-free with no reservations.
Schedule sex.
Yes you read that right. Pen it in at least once a week, during a block of time you know your kids WONT be able to interrupt, if for no other reason, it's a great way to burn calories.
One night a week, commit to spending that time with your spouse technology free.
As mushy as this sounds- my husband has begun to use this time to read me Robert Frost poems.
Stop going out with childless couples….unless you want to be tortured!
These are all great tips. It’s SO important to cut out time to spend with each other without the kids!
Nice tips. My husband and I make sure to spend time with each other. We send the kids upstairs by 8 PM. They know that’s our time to watch TV. We also go out on dates! Now that the kids are older, we can leave them at home!
These sound like some great ideas, I can imagine everything changes when you have kids and you definitely need to make sure you work on your relationship.
I’ve learned on a marriage it’s very important to have a sex schedule.
Great tips! We’ve been working on spending more time together just to talk after the kids go to bed and I think it helps!
These are useful tips to keep the flame of the marriage burning after kids. I love the idea of watching romantic movies on Netflix after the kids go to bed.
There is a great difference between a no kid marriage and a marriage with kids. But I can tell you that it comes a moment in your marriage with kids when your life is so beautiful and fun and it’s great to spend time together!
I loved Friends From College – the scene on the tennis court had me laughing out loud.
These are excellent tips! While my husband and I haven\’t been able to go out on a date because of today\’s current events, we enjoy going for walks and try to watch a movie or TV show at least every other night.
Having a kid can definitely put a wrench in a marriage, thanks for sharing these tips!
These are nice tips, we both take time for our self while kids are playing. As life is important in every angle. as husband and wife too along with mom and dad.
Oh, I should have read these great tips five or seven years ago!
Those are some wonderful tips! I believe having kids or not having kids is someone’s personal choice and who are we to judge others! It’s all about finding your priorities. If any couple really wants to spend time with each other, they will find number of ways.