Any mommas feeling like single mommas because your partner works opposite schedules?

Welcome to my life for the last two years. With a fiancé going to sleep when I wake up, and me getting off work when he goes into work. Life is hard. Our relationship is even harder. I often find myself so stressed out because I feel like we might share one day together a week but that one day he spends half of it sleeping, understandably..but still, it sucks.

So what do we do to keep our relationship thriving? DATE! We date each other. It doesn’t matter that we live together, have two kids together, and are engaged. We still have to date. We have to focus our attention on each other and express interest in one another. We have to court each other instead of getting comfortable with each other.

Is dating hard with two kids? YES. Do we always have money to go out? NO. Do we always have a babysitter? NO. But can we still date? YES.

Dating doesn’t have to be going to some fancy restaurant with roses and a night out on the town afterward. I am more than happy to share nachos in bed and watch a movie at home after the kids go to sleep. I love having a glass of wine and getting in the hot tub with him after a long day and sharing our week with each other.

When we don’t “date” each other I find myself bitter and angry with him. I feel neglected and overworked and undervalued in the home, so it is so important to our family dynamics that we continue to date each other. There are so many ways to keep your relationship strong even through opposite schedules or distance. Heck, even if you work the same schedule you are not just mom and dad, or husband and wife, you guys are boyfriend and girlfriend and that says something. That says I like this person, and I enjoy them.

So, make dating possible. Plan a movie without kids interrupting, plan an ice cream date, plan a bike ride together, or go out on the town. Send flowers to the one you love and remind them that they are on your mind. You would be surprised how far a small gesture will go.

Here’s our little date night selfie from Saturday when we went out to TGIF for drinks, dinner, and to watch the BSU football game. (hating football, but loving an excuse to put on makeup and get out of the house!)