Parents, how often do you go out?

nataliefamily3
nataliefamily3 Posts: 189 Member
in Chit-Chat
After getting a comment insinuating that we go out too much I am wondering ...

In general how often do you go out without the kids (anything recreational counts)

Do you And youe s.o. Go together or seperate?

How many kids and ages?

After having opposite schedules for a year, hubs and I now go out together one night a week leaving our 2 yr old with grandma for about 3 hours. I dont feel its excessive. We dont drink a lot hit clubs etc.
«1345

Replies

  • triciab79
    triciab79 Posts: 1,713 Member
    Almost never. I have several boys 2 of them are very young. If we had a baby sitter we would probably go out about once a month.
  • Timshel_
    Timshel_ Posts: 22,834 Member
    We try to go out together without kids at least once a month, but sometimes at least once every couple weeks. Honestly, we both LOVE spending time with the boys before they get tot the age they don't really want to spend that much time with us.

    But we are also just getting to the point we feel comfrotable leaving the boys at home alone for a couple hours at a time. So last Thrusday we went out for a nice dinner together. That will get us out more often too.
  • Linli_Anne
    Linli_Anne Posts: 1,360 Member
    We have a 6 year old and a 4 year old.

    I go to my choir practice every Monday night, hubby stays home with the kids. He will go to the occasional guys night thing - poker, sporting event etc. I stick around with the kids.

    As for together, we book ourselves a date night every other month that we get a babysitter for. Usually we do dinner and a movie, sometimes live theatre/music etc.

    No one has ever mentioned that we go out too much.
  • Sambytheway82
    Sambytheway82 Posts: 500
    Once twice a year to the cinema it makes it really special an were going to Scotland next week he's working I. Just going my niece is babysitting!! It's the first time ever I left them xxxxxx

    Oh I have four girls 9. 8. 5. 2. Xx
  • UsedToBeHusky
    UsedToBeHusky Posts: 15,228 Member
    Almost never.


    And I'm a single mom. I can't even get my kids to visit their dad anymore. (They're in the tweens and teens now.)
  • Brittany3oh3
    Brittany3oh3 Posts: 39
    My husband works nights so we have alone time on his days off mostly when when the kids go to bed we'll watch a movie or something and then we will do something as a family with our girls. We don't go out alone very often but we like being with our kids. We have a 1 year old and a 3 year old.

    There's nothing wrong with going out alone and keeping the flame going. ;)
  • kmorg22
    kmorg22 Posts: 180
    I am single..... I go out once a week. But that is also because my parents go get my kids from daycare on fridays and tells me I cant have them back until Sunday. Lol I was surprised. I figured I would never get that much freedom but instead I get complaints if I don't let my parents watch them weekly.

    I may not do anything except soak in a bath and read a book or go to the gym or something like that but I enjoy it while I have it. When my kids get bigger I am sure Nana and Pop will be locking their doors and turning off their lights when I want time to myself. lol

    my kids are 3yr old and 5 months old
  • AllonsYtotheTardis
    AllonsYtotheTardis Posts: 16,947 Member
    I go out once a week - moms night out - usually involves lot of coffee. Hubby and I almost never get out together without the kids though - because we don't have a baby sitter.
  • coffee_rocks
    coffee_rocks Posts: 275 Member
    Before our son was old enough to be home along - once in a blue moon. Maybe once every three months, max. Now that he can stay home for several hours alone, we go shopping frequently, and perhaps dinner or a movie once a month or so.

    We really do like having him along with us, so much more likely to go out as a family to do stuff.
  • OneLoveUnitedFamily2007
    OneLoveUnitedFamily2007 Posts: 19
    hubby and i go out on a date night once a wk or every other week. the kids are ages 7,3,2 & 1
  • eastonna
    eastonna Posts: 30 Member
    Maybe once a month we do a date night. Tomorrow night we're leaving our little guy with my parents for his first overnight.

    I have two boys 3 and 15months.
  • Cindy873
    Cindy873 Posts: 1,165
    Does once a decade count? lol
  • iAMsmiling
    iAMsmiling Posts: 2,394 Member
    Once or twice a year, when we're lucky.

    My older boy is special needs and there is no one else to take care of him.
  • fbmandy55
    fbmandy55 Posts: 5,263 Member
    I have a bowling night one day a week and he goes to my dad's house. That started when I was single and now that I am not, he doesn't NEED to go but they still want him for "their night". As far a bars go, maybe once every 6-8 weeks. My parents ask to keep my son or hang out with him at least 1-2 times a week so I usually spend that time at the gym or with my boyfriend.
  • cskalaj
    cskalaj Posts: 94 Member
    I don't have kids and I don't think once a week is excessive...especially since you have a willing (she's willing, right?) and possibly eager built-in babysitter (grandparents can never get enough of the grandkids, right?). Even if you're both working full time, you still have every evening and all the rest of the weekend with the kids. It's important for you and your spouse to build on your relationship so that when the kids inevitably grow up and leave the home, you'll still want to be around each other. I have been the babysitter for many, many years and plan to start a family in the next couple of years. If it's possible, I will go out for 3 hours once a week with my husband!
  • nataliefamily3
    nataliefamily3 Posts: 189 Member
    Hmmm I wonder if age of parents plays a role too. We are 21 & 25. I feel like my other friends with kids are out way more. Once they are sleeping they just leave them with grandparents and go to the club.


    Thanks to everyone who imputs, I dont judge I feel its a personal choice based on how often you see your children and spouse, as well as what you can afford. We are lucky to have grandmas sitting services.
  • rockerbabyy
    rockerbabyy Posts: 2,258 Member
    my girls are 6 and 7 and we go out in random spurts lol sometimes we wont go out for months, and then we'll go out a few times a month for a month or two. my father in law lives with us, so we just put the kids to bed and he keeps an ear/eye out for them.
    we usually go out to bars with friends, sometimes drink too much and sometimes we just go to a movie.
  • Brittany3oh3
    Brittany3oh3 Posts: 39
    I'm 24 my husband is 25.
  • darkguardian419
    darkguardian419 Posts: 1,302 Member
    What's going out? JK

    When we have $40-$60 to shell out for a sitter, we will go out more, until then we rely on grandparents to watch the baby, and try to make it back before too long...

    All and all, I'd say once every few months, for 'special' occasions, like a birthday party (adult) or something along those lines.
  • MB_Positif
    MB_Positif Posts: 8,897 Member
    Not nearly enough, it's hard b/c we only have one kid and he's really well behaved so sometimes it seems silly to spend money on a babysitter to go out to eat or whatever because he behaves better than some 13 year olds in restaurants, but we are trying to get better at going out more often...in fact we have a date tomorrow!
  • skinnyinnotime
    skinnyinnotime Posts: 4,078 Member
    The last time my husband and I went out was Christmas 2011. We don't have anyone to babysit, neither of us would have a stranger to babysit, just wouldn't feel safe, so we rarely get to go out together.

    We do however go out with our friends, so at least we get some social life!
  • Artemis726
    Artemis726 Posts: 587 Member
    Maybe 4 times a year together, if we are lucky. We have 4 kids and 1 on the way, ages 4-12. We do go out on our own for errands and appointments, and we go places with the family several times a week. I would like that to be more like a night out every 1-2 months, but we don't have a lot of options when it comes to sitters willing to watch 4 kids, a couple challenging ones at that. :tongue:

    When we had one and were younger, I'd say we'd go out about every month or so to dinner and a movie or a bar. However, the grandparents would take the baby every Sunday for several hours and sometimes during the week here and there because they just wanted to spend time with her. So we did have alone time, but were usually at home or might take the opportunity to get groceries together- sexy, right? :laugh:

    Sounds like folks need to mind their own business. As long is grandma is happy to be with the baby and you don't take advantage, I think it's great that you have the opportunity to enjoy some couple time.
  • BflSaberfan
    BflSaberfan Posts: 1,272
    Once or twice a year without kids. ETA I am 31 he is 32, but NEVER went out before our kids got older. When they were toddlers/babies we were home with them unless we were at work and/or school.

    When we go out we usually hit up the casino or catch a movie. We dont like to drink because we know we still have to watch our kids the next day. Before we had kids we went out at least 3 times a week.

    If you want opinions I do think once a week is a bit much. But thats just me. If you're not feeling guilty for it and Grandma is okay with it dont worry what others think. Someone will ALWAYS have an opinion on how you parent, you cant please anyone and only you know what is best for your child.
  • Mermaidyo
    Mermaidyo Posts: 125 Member
    We go out at the very least once a month. my son is 2yrs. Normally he's in bed by the time we go out

    and when we pick him up from his grandma's house (my mom) it's about 10am and we're' ready to start our family day :)


    I see nothing wrong with going out every so often, sometimes we go to the bar but mind you the bar is across the street from us so we walk home.
    Or we go bowling, pool, darts etc.


    I know some moms that go out every single weekend and drink i think it's excessive but they aren't my kids.
    I pushed mine out I get to decide what I think is right is how i see it lol
  • spacecase76
    spacecase76 Posts: 673 Member
    my kids go to their dad's every other weekend, so.. every other weekend.... I haven't hired a sitter in YEARS, and I don't live near family.

    ETA, we usually go out .. at least some shopping or something fun plus dinner.. with the kids on the weekends I have them. Trying to do something on a week night is a joke.
  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
    One night a week. One 9 year old that stays with grandma and papa.
  • KCGettinFit2014
    KCGettinFit2014 Posts: 141
    My husband and I have an 8 year, 2 year old and 1 year old. We get out together once every 3 to 4 months. And even at that we can only squeeze in enough time for a movie before having to dart home. Its important to spend time together being just husband and wife. We need to do it more often but life circumstances don't allow for it...sometimes our relationship suffers for it.
  • petiteMom289
    petiteMom289 Posts: 26
    Not enough. Probably once every two months or so. Sometimes it's once a month and then we got a few months without going out. In an ideal world, I'd love to have a date night four times a month for at least 2-4 hours. We have a 5 1/2 and 2 1/2 year old.
  • skinnyinnotime
    skinnyinnotime Posts: 4,078 Member
    I don't have kids and I don't think once a week is excessive...especially since you have a willing (she's willing, right?) and possibly eager built-in babysitter (grandparents can never get enough of the grandkids, right?).

    Hahahahaa, I wish! My mil has babysat our kids 4 times in 9 YEARS!!! She can't travel across our city to babysit our kids but can travel to the other side of the country to babysit for her daughters kid and that's sometimes for over a week.
  • MrsDrk
    MrsDrk Posts: 153 Member
    Since having my 2 year old- pretty much never. Here and there, we'll go grocery shopping alone. Two weeks ago, we both got our hair cut at the same time. I have 2 teenagers as well, and they love their sister but I don't expect them to watch her.

Categories