What do you do to "connect"?

[Dana]

Dh and I hit a rough spot...ok well, we hit the bottom of a rough spot this past December and after 4-6 very intense weeks we have been reconnecting.

Over Valentines Day weekend we went out of town to a winery, ate at a nice restaurant associated with the wineray and then stayed at a hotel for some "us" time. It was then that I realized that we need to focus on us. I'm afraid that I've spent so much time and energy focusing on the children that we've just melted into the background. Unfortunately, in the end, our children won't benefit if we aren't a couple.

So...here's the big question: How do you and your spouse/significant other reconnect? Where do you go on date nights? Do you set aside time daily, weekly, monthly for "couple" time?

Right now I our plan is to do a "date night" monthly- our next is going to be just a nice dinner out but I want more ideas. The big problem is that I work weekend nights and we works weekday days so our only evening off together is Tuesday and since it's a school night I feel bad sending my kids off to my parents...but once I month I can handle.

[ravenly]

Everyday after work we sit for about 1/2 hour and chit chat about our day. He plays with the kids while I get dinner ready after our chitchat. Then after they go to bed we usually have a ritual of watching our shows or just hanging out chatting. Weekends are usually focused on the kids, though. I'd like to do more going out just the two of us, but right now it is difficult finding a sitter. I think it will be much easier once Brooklyn hits 3 or 4 and the kids are easier to handle I can find a 13/14/15 year old to just come over after the kids go to bed while we go out for a few hours. Right now I wouldn't trust that age to watch her.

[Alexismith]

DS is still too little for me to feel safe leaving him with someone from the service and we dont have any family in the area so we cant go anywhere without him. tight now we connect by curling on the couch with delivery dinner and a movie rental from amazon!

[SC-Sherb]

Our schedules are crazy and all over the place. I work day shift and DH works rotating days, evenings and nights. When he is home, he spends as much time as possible with the kids but we always watch a movie, hockey game or some show together when we can. We also do grocery shopping on Sundays by ourselves and leave the older 2 kids home with the little guy. I know it's only grocery shopping but it gives us some time together with just the 2 of us.

Now that our oldest DS#1 can put the little guy to bed, we may start taking advantage and go out once in awhile but we like to just chill at home most nights.