This past weekend I was reminded of life BC (before children). My hubs and I went away on a mini-vacay without the kids. And yes, this precious time spent alone without the kids was nothing short of pure bliss. In fact, BC and this past weekend looked something like this:
- Going out without the need to plan for the entire evening because it was just us
- We did whatever we wanted whenever we wanted
- No worries about the kids because this wasn’t about the kids, it was about us
- Having an awesome conversation uninterrupted
- Laughing and smiling and connecting like we did BC
- Sleeping in past 6 am
- Spending quality time together, alone
During our escape I posed for a moment with this man,
And spent some quality time with my man
My advice to anyone on how to maintain a successful marriage? Get some time alone away from the kids.
It’s a great reminder of why you created that beautiful family in the first place.
Fantastic! Good for you! It’s so important to have that time as a couple to reconnect.
Good for you! We have not had many getaways in the 7 years since we started having kids. 2 single nights, and 3 days last summer. We don’t have family anywhere nearby, so it is difficult for us to get away.
We really hope to get away sometime in the next year for our 10 year anniversary. We are gluttons for punishment and scheduled a family vacation, with grandparents in tow, on our actual anniversary date! yikes!
On your anniversary date??? Girl, you’ll need a vacation after THAT vacation! 😉
I totally agree. It’s hard to leave your little one (or ones) somtimes, but it’s necessary. I’m hoping my husband and I can take a nice trip together when we both finish school. Glad you had a nice time!
Glad to hear that you two had a great time on your mini vacation.
Love some mini vacations! Have to wait for Violet to get off the bewb and then I am SO there! So glad you guys had fun! Your hubs is def, cuter than the pirate!
Also – I think you have inspired me to bring back my Before I Had Kids posts on the blog. Thanks!
Yes, he is a total cutie! 😉
Jealous, jealous, jealous! Did I mention that I am jealous? LOL!
It looks like you guys had an amazingly wonderful time! I agree that it is so important to get away without kids. It really revitalizes things and totally makes you remember!
Exactly Sarah – it brings you right back to when and WHY you began a life together in the first place.
Oh, to be able to speak without interruption!!! I think that would be magical right about now!
Sounds like a fantastic trip – glad you enjoyed your getaway!
Amber
i am all about time away from the kids. we go on dates as often as we can find a babysitter, and i make it a point not to feel guilty about that. we’ve only found the time to go on one trip without the kids (to vegas) but it was heaven, and i can’t wait for the next one.
i think that sometimes people’s knee-jerk reaction is to cringe when a parent–especially a mother–says they love their time away from their children. but just like you said, there’s a real need for the reminder of why you decided to sign 18 years of your life away to other people. couple’s time is a must-have for the health of the marriage and of the family.
I am right there with you Aleixs. I am a huge believer in taking time away – sometimes it’s not easy to do, but I am a better mother because of it. And time with the hubs? It keeps the relationship solid and is a wonderful reminder of why we started this thing in the first place. As you said, “Couple’s time is a must-have for the health of the marriage and of the family.” <—–Without a doubt.
Always a fantastic idea to getaway and reconnect. Important in a marriage. With all the hustle and bustle of raising the kids, it’s the marriage/relationship that often gets pushed second or third. Happy parents equals happy parenting.
So glad you had this time just for the two of you! I always marvel how just a little bit of one on one time, sans children, makes a HUGE difference. It should almost be part of marriage vows
I so agree!! sounds like a great time!!
Aimee
you are right – we all need some “us” time every now and then. 😉
~ash’s mum
Sooooo true! We went away for one night and it did wonders…granted, we were in bed by 9:30 that night, but who cares???
Who cares is right! Isn’t that the point? 😉
I’m glad you had a good time! We try to get away at least once a year for a weekend (usually around our anniversary) and it really renews us.
This is really great advice. I am glad you had a great weekend with your husband.
Good for you Heather! How romantic – I agree that having time with your spouse without kids definitely keeps a marriage together.
I agree with you 100%! I find that my hubby and I don’t get time away for ourselves and every once in awhile you need to. Every day life is so hectic sometimes I feel like we are two ships passing in the night. Great reminder and looks like you had fun!
This is a MUST! Thank you for saying it ‘out loud’.
Now that my daughter is 10 – and a full-fledged ‘away camper’..Hubby and I get ONE month to ourselves. Do we miss her? Yes. But is it good for her and US? A resounding YES!
It’s a time when we:
*re-connect as a couple
*are not bound by a carpool schedule – or the need to get home
*do things we’ve been dying to do around the city
*and…as I like to say…”swing from the chandeliers!” (well, you get the idea…)
Elissa,
Exactly!! It reminds you of why you began a relationship together in the first place, doesn’t it??
So true! In fact one of my friends mentioned that I was secretly looking at Swiss boarding schools once DD10 came home…
She was only kidding…I think…
LOL…
Husband surprised me with a night away to see Cheryl Crow-
So easy to love that other person when there are no distractions!
That sounds wonderful! Good for you two
We are looking forward to getting away for the day at the end of August. You’re right…it’s a must and good for everyone 
yay! Time with Captain Morgan AND the hubs! That is definitely a successful weekend! So glad you had fun!
Yes, Captain Morgan and the hubs!!
Time with hubby is so important… we’ve been away a couple of times without our oldest, but never without our younger daughter (she’s 18 months now).
My mom’s the only one we trust to watch our kids overnight, and she is almost a full time nanny to my nephew, so her schedule doesn’t currently allow us to get away. Perhaps we’ll hire a babysitter and go on a date…
Jamie,
Yes, you should try and make a plan even if it’s a few hours – SO needed!!
Nothing like that quality alone time to discover why you fell in love and reconnect to your spouse.
This is SO true and so many moms forget this simple fact! Glad you guys had such a great time!
We been trying this for years and it never happens. But honestly if my marriage fails I won’t be surprised. I dun think I’d really even care. 😛
Good for you! I desperately need some of that. Would be wonderful!!!
http://www.pampersandpinot.com
And to add to your advice… do something with your spouse that involves communication. Going to the movie theater just doesn’t cut it.
I agree, the movie theater doesn’t cut it! 😉
It sounds like you had a refreshing time! I’m not quite ready to leave Mungee overnight, but we are having a date night tomorrow … on Mungee’s 1st birthday. We’ll go out for dinner after she’s asleep. I think it’s kind of fitting to go out to celebrate the day she came into the world
Definitely important to have those times. Hoping for one soon myself. It has been a while. Sad though, we find ourselves talking about the kids most of the trip! What are you gonna do. While home it is almost impossible to talk about them as now they are older and know EVERYTHING we talk about.
I agree! My husband is out of town for another week but when he gets back we are taking off by ourselves for 2 or 3 days. I’m so excited!
How awesome!!
I’m glad you had a good time!
Alone time is nice 
Oh, I am a different person if I can just get away with my husband even for an hour. Why don’t we make this a priority more than we do?
My hubby and I have been married for 29 years and have 4 young adult/adult kids ages 17-28. We worked very diligently to get away as much as we were able when we they were younger. It is crucial for your marriage and your sanity!
We are currently on a week away from our kids, and we are not together! Let me explain! We came together to a BnB in Savannah and he spent the weekend with me, and this morning, he left for a little road trip for a couple of days, and I remained in Savannah for a few days of do nothing time. We both needed this time together AND alone.
I know that most of you with younger kids could not imagine this, but just learn to get creative in your getaways!
Yes, we are not there yet as we want every second of time alone together!
Yup, I agree 100%. From the start my husband and I have made it a point to get away just the two of us, at least once a year. We are going on a 5-day cruise at the end of this month and I can’t wait!
It’s so important to take care of your relationship as well as one’s kids.
Alone time is freakin’ priceless!!! The hubs and I were at a conference this week, so that doesn’t really count, but we are planning on getting away for a few days for our anniversary for sure. I can’t wait! Looks like you had a great time!
Great post!
Lots of relationships go out the window because parents forget eachother in the daily grind of raising their kids. Thanks for reminding us all how important it is to take time out for eachother =]
Hurray for kid free get away!! We all need to do this, despite the extra hassle and work, it’s so worth it in the end!!
Yes, it is soooooooo worth it!!
Ah, time alone… Isn’t is just wonderful?
The pirate reminds of the the Captain Morgan (rum) pirate and you and your hubby are a smokin’ hot couple!
Hope you enjoyed yourselves!
Smokin’ hot, thanks mama!! xo
I’m so glad that you got a chance to get away without the kids and reconnect!
That is SO TRUE !!!. i am so happy for you guys. Somewhere is the whole chaos of life, the little things tend to get lost don’t they !!! treasure moments like these, cuz they are so few and so far in between.
We did the same thing this weekend. Isn’t it so refreshing not only for your marriage, but for the entire family? I’m glad you had a fabulous time!
Refreshing for the entire family – yes!!!!!!
So happy for you! And jealous. Me and my husband have to do this, an absolute must!
Ahhhh time alone!! How nice!! It sounds like you had a wonderful time!! Hubs and I are doing a weekend away in September without the kids and I CANNOT wait!!!
You are so right! Alone time is precious! And MY man and I have not had nearly enough of it lately. I think you’ve inspired a date night — very soon!! ;0)
Oh, that sounds amazing! I can’t wait until we get a chance to get away, just the two of us. It has been far too long. I’m so glad that you were able to enjoy some quality time alone!
My hubby and I just went on a weekend getaway at the beginning of the month. First time in years. It was amazing. We also have date nights every other week and that does so much for our relationship. The more we can connect without our kids the better we seem to be for our kids. Crazy how that works.
I totally get that – and yes, crazy how that works!!
How wonderful! I have a getaway coming up with hubby too. I. Can. Not. Wait!
Time alone is extremely important to maintain a marriage.