For many decades, parents thought raising their children came before nurturing their marriage. It often turned out they were wrong, and many couples grew apart by the time their children grew up. They neglected each other, and they found their relationship empty just when being alone together was finally possible. Modern counsellors now urge parents to reserve one night per week for dating, and it can make a great deal of different to continuing the relationship.
Parents who have chosen to have a date night often find it awkward at first, and spending the evening talking about the children is natural for them. It can take several months before they get past the awkwardness of being alone together for the first time in years, and planning topics to discuss might help them get past this stage. It is almost as if they are meeting and dating for the first time, and navigating it is difficult if they have been busy the last few years.
It is expected that two people who barely know each other would find dating a challenge, but people assume married couples would have an easy time. Life with children, a home and careers tends to isolate spouses from each other. It can take a toll on their relationship, and they might be unable to communicate as they did when they were first married. The lack of communication is what stifles the relationship, so they need to reconnect alone to continue a successful marriage.
Many people who choose to date their spouse on a regular basis find they still have many things in common, and they do not include just the children. They might find their interests have converged, or each may discover the other person has found new goals in life they can share as a couple. Dating again is worth the initial awkwardness to keep the relationship alive.
