Date Nights: Overrated or necessary?

[HeatherNYC]

 

It is Valentine's Day! So, who is going out to dinner with her spouse or significant other? Who has a date night planned? Speaking of date nights, how often do you have an evening alone, out together, doing something non-kid-related?

I know some friends who have two date nights every week, while others who maybe squeeze one in every month or two. And there are different definitions of date night - is it just you and your love, alone, out? Or does ordering in and having a movie night at home count? What about when you have dinner with friends and no kids?

For my husband and me, it goes in waves. Sometimes we can go a few months without a true alone date night, yet we will have gone to a party for friends here and there, while there may be a few weeks in a row where we manage a dinner and movie out and one snuggled on the couch.

A lot of things you read say it is essential to the health of your marriage to have those times just for you two, just to focus on you as a couple. That when you can't find time for that, to check in on each other and your relationship...hmmm...

What do you think? How often do you have date night? How do you define "date night"?

©iStockphoto.com/ GooDween123 

[timon95]

if you want to count dh and i watching tv together once or twice a week as a date night then we have date night once or twice a week.

[nngmommy83]

I think neccessary. Doesn't have to be out anywhere though just carve out some alone time =)

[nngmommy83]

Oh and we try for an actual date night at least once a month or so but have "date nights" once a week =)

[Wish2Be]

I think they are both overated and necessary.

I havent been on a single date night since DS was born 3 years ago. I could use one, but I dont think we need to go on one every month or anything like that.

[.Angelica.]

we don't do it often at all.

[goddess99]

We don't have date night, to me they are for people having problems in their relationship. Those are the only people I've ever known to have date nights.

[cara124]

being single "date night" is when I get to go out kid free for more than a run to the store.... but sometimes I have true "date nights" at home with a good movie I've wanted to watch, a bowl of popcorn & a glass of wine by myself after the kids have gone to bed.

[mrswillie]

Dh & I try to have a date night once a week. It could be something as simple as getting in our jacuzzi without the kids, to watching a movie alone together, to going out for dinner, etc.

[natesmom1228]

I find them very neccessary. We like to go out once or twice a month. My son is older and my mom never has an issue having him stay over so hubby and I can go out.

[CBMomma42]

My fiance and I have a date night at least once a month. I think it is necessary because we have a 4 month old son together so getting a break from baby one night a month is something we both need. We are going out to dinner for Valentine's Day and we might catch a movie, no definate plans other than a dinner out.