How often do you and your dh/dw/so go "out"?

[LauraGB]

I'm going "out" tonight with dh. I seriously can't remember the last time we've gone "out"...years, maybe? For sure years. But I'm not sure how many. Several; more than 3, I'm sure. We go do things separately sometimes, but rarely together; usually we go with the whole family, separately, or not at all.

 

So, the kids are staying home tonight for a few hours while dh and I go to a gathering his cousin has organized at a local pub.

 

I'm wondering, how often do most of the homeschool community do this sort of "going out" together?

Edited July 1, 2011 by LauraGB
Poll is up!

[Impish]

Its a rarity. Every now and then once the Littles are in bed, we'll get Diva to babysit for an hour and go for coffee, but that's about the extent of it.

 

We are going out for dinner tonight though! :D

[Kathleen in VA]

Dh and I recently celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary. In that time I think we've been out together - just the two of us - maybe five times. One of those times was on Christmas Eve for breakfast because our septic overflowed and we went to Lowe's to buy something or other to fix the toilet and ended up grabbing a quick meal at IHOP. :D

 

I'm not big on eating out in the first place, so going out is not a big priority for me. I'd rather spend the time with the whole family and I'm pretty sure he feels the same way. Call me unromantic, but there it is.

[LaxMom]

Our social life sounds pretty much like yours, Laura. I may go down the street to hear a friend's band play at the pub, or out with a girlfriend a couple times a year but, mostly, we go as a family or not at all.

 

We've gone to a couple of adults-only events in the past decade.... I think I can count those occasions on one hand.

[Pretty in Pink]

We usually grab dinner while the boys are at AWANA during the school year, and that's once per week, but we've always got our youngest with us and we have to be quick, so I'm not sure that counts (though I'm grateful to have that time alone with just dh and the toddler).

 

Planned dates -- we shoot for once per month.

[Jen in PA]

Dh and I only recently started going out. The dc started doing occasional workshops on weekend afternoons which gives us a three hour opening. We have been grabbing lunch together, browsing in shops, etc. DH's high school reunion is in a month, and I am really hoping that MIL can take them for the night so that we can have a real evening out -- I am sure we haven't had one of those since dd was born.

[CatMomof3]

The last time we went out w/o the kids was a couple of years ago (a family member's wedding). We do have "date night" every Saturday where we play a board game, drink wine, and talk about anything except kids and money. It's nice.

[UnsinkableKristen]

I voted "other" - we got out alone about once a month. Not always on a dinner & a movie type date, but we try to get away just the two of us about that often.

[TracyP]

I voted twice per year. Our b-days are two days apart so we try to go out for our b-days and for our anniversary. The last time we went out it was to see Gran Tourino so I'm thinking 2 1/2 years ago. Ugh, I didn't realize it had been that long. Enjoy your evening!

[Margo out of lurking]

I voted "Other."

 

When my kids were younger, maybe twice a year--for our anniversary and the occasional funeral. (Seriously!)

 

When they began to be old enough to stay home alone, we would take a quick run to Home Depot. Those were the days! It was wonderful to just be alone, in whatever context we could!

 

Now, most of our times "out" are still just running errands. The two of us go out to dinner alone about once a year, or sometimes we'll grab a quick lunch.

 

I'm grateful for the time we've had with our kids. We never felt the need to have "date nights," and I wouldn't change a thing about it even if I could.:001_smile:

[RainySunday]

Ours are 15 months and 3.5yrs...so, mostly never. The last time was before the baby was born. We don't leave our kiddos with anyone else until after a year (baby, who really is a crazy little boy and not so much a baby, hasn't been left yet); My babies nurse exclusively (and frequently, like every 1-2hours the fist few months, and never on a schedule), and we intro solids on the later side, so it would be hard to leave them when they are younger. We do go out some, but we take the kids. As they get older, that may change, but for now, it works. DD3.5 stays with grammy sometimes, for a day, or overnight and that's nice too (for her and us :D ).

[Joker]

We have "date nights" after the kids go to bed. We rarely actually go out without the kids. They'll be old enough to stay home alone in about two more years and we'll get out more.

[elegantlion]

We have a goal to out at least once a month, we reset that goal at least twice a year and it lasts for about a month. So we go out about twice a year. :glare:

[Soror]

Oh, completely alone. My babe always stays with us as well. Um, cannot remember. We went to a short church service a few times a few months ago by ourselves. We just went and came right back(2hrs total gone- including drive time I think). Before that it was before she was born 15-16 months. We will likely try to go out for our anniversary 2 weeks from now actually by ourselves. We generally like to stay together as a family as well.

[Tutor]

Since our girls became old enough to watch themselves and their brothers, we average once a week. Even if it is just a quick trip alone to the grocery store. Our kids have noticed that if dh and I don't get alone, out-of-the-house time for at least an hour a week, we're grumpy parents. :D When our kids were younger, we went out maybe once a month. Dh was a high school teacher most of that time, and he often got certificates toward free babysitting from students for Christmas. :001_smile:

[Faith]

We try to go out about once a month.

[Plucky]

We go out 2-4 times a month together. When we had little ones we didn't have that luxury. Having older kids is very freeing.

[Tap]

We used to go out weekly when our older kids were at church on Wednesdays. Now, it has been at least a year since we have gone out.

 

Then we got dd4. She doesn't like going to the church group so she isn't going yet. It adds too much expense to pay a sitter $20 on top of the price of a meal. Especially since restaurant food has become so very expensive around here!

 

She is too hard for my older kids to handle so they can't watch her for the random date night, so we pretty much stopped going out.

[AuntPol]

Once a month is the usual. Occasionally we miss a month and sometimes, we can go out more than once.

 

I assume you mean like go out to dinner or something. Now that our kids are double digits, we are comfortable in running to grocery store together here and there.

[GardenTenders/Kim]

We are blessed with a wonderful grandma and go out once a month if money allows for a real date, our daughter loves spending the night with grandma though so if we could afford it it would be weekly. LOL

[Wheres Toto]

There was no option between 2-4 times per month (or more) and maybe every 3 months.

 

We usually go out once a month. We pick one Friday or Saturday when my oldest is here and tell her not to make plans since she is babysitting. The last couple of times we ate dinner at home then went out for snacks and coffee before seeing a movie.

 

In addition, we will go out to dinner for my birthday (July) and our anniversary (December).

[annlaura]

Our older DS is 4.5, and since his arrival we've been out for coffee once and dinner twice.

[DianeW88]

Once a week. I love planning date nights with my dh. Sometimes it's just us and sometimes it's a group date with friends. I plan 3 nights out of the month and the other one is up to him. Here's my favorite website for fun date night suggestions and activities for married couples:

 

http://www.thedatingdivas.com/

[nukeswife]

I voted other, because when he's actually in port we try to go out once a month at least while the kids are at a Parent's Survival Night at their gym. But we also will go out for dinner or lunch or to run errands while the kids stay home at other times and I wasn't sure if you mentioned something planned like dinner and a movie or just out running errands and I say "Hey, you want to come with me?"

[HappyCrazyMama]

I voted other because you went from twice a year to every other year but we go once year on our anniversary.:)

[Greta]

About once a month, but that wasn't one of the poll options. :)

[meggie]

For our birthdays we go to a Brazilian restaurant that has a buffet. Kids six and under eat free and they give you a free meal coupon for your birthday. We figure we might as well spend the money for one meal and feed the whole family. That's about all we go out.

 

We haven't been on a date since before baby girl was born. We probably won't go on another one until she has a regular bedtime. With her, I didn't even bother to try using a bottle. It is just a big hassle to pump and my other two never took one past four months anyway.

 

My brother and his wife live near by, so we occasionally use them as babysitters. But I have a rule of not asking for favors unless we are asked for some too. Since they don't need much, I don't ask much.

[PIE!]

I voted "other." We go out once a month. We didn't always, but for Christmas last year instead of a regular present, I gave dh 12 date tickets. I came up with 12 fun (and mostly inexpensive) things we could go do together. (I did include a couple of date-at-home type things, since I don't see us really going out right after baby is born in August). Each month he picks one, and I take care of all the arrangements. It's been really nice for both of us. Probably one of the better Christmas presents I've given him.

[Farrar]

Dh is really into theater. We have season tix every year for somewhere. The last couple of years they've been to the Shakespeare Theater downtown. Well worth it because it makes us go out. We also get out a few more times over the year. We probably don't average once a month quite, but we get out a little more than every three months. We also go for breakfast dates occasionally while the kids are busy and when they do summer camp we go to matinee dates (he works nights).

[Peela]

We tend to have always made the time one way or another. Probably less while we were in the thick of homeschooling- but when the kids were young we used to go to movies without them. Now they are older we go out to lunch once or twice a week. Over summer we went to the beach regularly in the mornings.

 

Dh works from home, and works evenings mainly, so that has always given us that flexiblity. I like having my evenings to myself, too.

[Miselainia]

We go out weekly if we can. If not, we might try to make it up with two dates the next week. Earlier in our marriage when our kids were young, we hired a neighbor girl to watch the kids which they really looked forward to. Now our older ones take turns watching the younger. Occassionally dinner, most often errands or browsing books at a nearby bookstore, never movies (because you can't talk through a movie). :)

[Night Elf]

It was definitely more difficult when the kids were younger. We went out as often as we could though. Once they were comfortable staying home alone for about an hour, DH and I started going out about once a week. The kids love our date nights. We bring food in for them, and then DH and I go out. :)

[angela in ohio]

When our dc were younger, we never did, because we didn't use a sitter, and we wanted to spend the time with them.

 

Now that they are old enough to stay home without us, and they have their own things to do (and we have more money :D,) we go out every other week, usually to dinner and a movie.

[Melissa in Australia]

4 times in 18 years of marriage, and one of those times was our honeymoon.

 

We went out for 2 days in May. We went to a two day training session for fostering. My mother looked after the children.

[DarlaS]

I honestly cannot remember the last time we went on an actual date. You meant without kids right? Being driven to the endodontist doesn't count? :tongue_smilie:

[Rosie_0801]

Uh, every other year, I think. I'm pretty sure our last date was to the hospital to have #2.

 

Rosie

[OrdinaryTime]

We get out at least once a month to a Catholic couples' group. We usually go out two to three other times, usually to my husband's work-related events. He works in the politics so we never have a shortage of receptions, fundraisers, etc. to go to. For the past four years we've always had one of my sisters living with us -room/board in exchange for babysitting/cleaning- so we have a good childcare arrangment.

[DawnM]

I voted wrong.....I didn't realize you meant without any kids......we have been married 16 years (as of yesterday! :D) and we rarely go out without the kids.....maybe 8 times total in our marriage. We don't have family to watch the kids.

 

It started when the kids were little. We both worked full time and just made it a rule that we didn't get a babysitter the precious little time we did have with the kids.

 

Now that I am home, DH still feels that he doesn't get enough time with the family, so we spend time together most of the time.

 

Dawn

[akmommy]

Quite frankly, not nearly often enough. We have tickets to a concert later this month and I'm so excited.

[nova mama]

We have family in the area who can watch the kids, so we're able to go out maybe once/month or two.

[athena1277]

We go out when there is a grandparent here with time to babysit (usually my mom). All grandparents live very far away (like 2-3 days by car), so that happens only 1-2 times per year.

[LuvToRead]

Once a year, at most. We'll go out to eat, then head to Lowe's after. Very romantic!

[missiemick]

Our idea of a date is to go to Chik-Fil-A and sit at a table by ourselves and let our kids play for a while.

[Mrs Mungo]

We go out by ourselves at least once a week. However, that wasn't true until my eldest was old enough to babysit the younger kids. We went to see X-men last night. But, often our "dates" are spent running errands.

[Wamommy]

When the kids were younger, maybe twice a year.

 

Now that my oldest can babysit, we go out alone probably 2-3 times per month. Sometimes it is dinner, sometimes just a liesurely trip to the store. They love being on their own and get along very well.

[Susan in TN]

This past year, we've found that it's sometimes easier to meet for lunch, so we've done that a few times while the older kids babysit the youngers for an hour.

[ereks mom]

Dh and I have date night every week. We didn't always do this, because we couldn't afford a sitter. But now that the dc are older, we've made it a regular thing.

[Mom22ns]

We go out on our anniversary every year. Now that our kids are getting older we sometimes get to go out other times, but not often. I would have voted once a year if it was an option.

 

This year we didn't get to go out on our anniversary, but our kids both went on a weekend youth retreat last February. We had TWO whole day of date time!

[Robyn]

We've had a date night once since ds 4 was born. Now we live 2 1/2 hours away from family, so I guess we'll go out sometime when my oldest is big enough to babysit the other kids for the evening.

 

My littles are in bed by 7:30-8 every night so we do get time together without the kids, just not out.

[dangermom]

We try to have a date night every Saturday, but of course we can't always manage it. It's our default, though.