Teach your kids to be resilient, responsible, and respectful by spending quality time with them daily. As every working adult (and that is all of us, even if we don't get a paycheck or have kids) knows — we have busy lives.
![Make A Date For The Couch [EXPERT]](http://images.tangomag.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/node-full/images/new20man.jpg "Make A Date For The Couch [EXPERT]")
Today’s couple building assignment is to snuggle on the couch for an evening and talk, without turning the TV on. This positive interaction will especially fill the love tank of anyone who has “Quality Time” as a primary Love Language. When children enter the picture, it’s very easy for the couple relationship to morph into a sort of business partnership.
How often are you sitting down with your family to eat dinner during the week? You know, Crooklyn style with all the rowdy kids gathered together, husband and even the dog set around the table chatting, eating, bonding (or arguing). Well, if you don't do it often, today, September 26, is Family Day — A Day to Eat Dinner with Your Children.
We all work hard on our careers, helping our friends and family, and doing all those necessary chores. Women, particularly, are very generous with giving of themselves to others, sometimes to the detriment of their own needs and desires. But we're all guilty of getting caught in routines that don't leave enough time or energy for the ones we love. We recently asked the YourTango Experts how we can find space in our busy lives for more quality time seeking love or spending time with our current relationships. Here's what they had to say:
According to the 22,000 people who took the Power of Attraction survey, men and women have pretty similar view on how to reignite attraction in a relationship. Both genders say talking about the relationship and going on a date are the top methods or rekindling the spark. But as we continued to analyze the results, we found that there were some significant differences in what guys and gals thought would turn up the heat. “I can’t imagine ever being like that with you,” John said. He meant it... for the first few months. The new couple went to concerts, museums and took long walks around the city. But less than a year into the relationship, a familiar pattern emerged. “Our relationship had become the dreaded ‘dinner and sex,’” says Amy. “Well, no. Dinner and watching a mind-numbing amount of TV and sex.” And fighting about how they “never did anything anymore.” So what happened? Was John growing boring, because he was already bored?
I'm lucky. I'll say that right off the bat. I have a job that recognizes that I have a life outside of work. That is a rare and magical gift. I don't know what I would do without that. I know a lot of women aren't so lucky. They have to support their families financially, care for them emotionally and protect their physical well-being, all while maintaining jobs that make it hard for them to be the kind of parents they want to be. It makes a tough situation tougher.
Twenty-four hours in a day never seem to be enough. Balancing kids, marriage, work, friends and other life commitments is one of our greatest challenges today. What often seems to slip through the cracks is quality time spent with our partner.
My husband and I have worked hard to carve out time for each other in our busy, workaholic lives. We cook together. We indulge in our mutual appreciation of wine together. We do the couch potato thing and watch Netflixed episodes of NCIS together. We even make a weekend activity out of house hunting. As busy as we both so often are, we cling to these moments of intimacy, and know that we'll have to try even harder once a child is in the picture. We come from close, tight-knit families and, despite my mother's failed attempts to institute monthly Family Fun Time several years ago, we both have fond memories of growing up—and growing close—thanks to regular family activities and events. It's important to us that our kids have the same sort of chidhood.
Reading together can be an investment in your relationship.
Naps, baths and reading together? No, they're not ways to amuse the two-and-under set, but the two of you! Here are some surprising ways to add sizzle to a relationship that's become ho-hum. Whether dating or married, spend time together with these unique, intimate at-home date ideas.
