Valentine's Day With Kids: 5 Things To Do When You're Trapped At Home On V-Day

Ah, Valentine's Day. While the rest of the world is out to dinner, parents -- especially those who don't want to spend inordinate amounts on a sitter and prix fixe menu -- are more likely at home doing dinner, bath, bedtime, collapse-on-the-floor. But, just because you have little kids, doesn't mean you have to give up a romantic holiday.

"[Having a good night] takes goodwill and the intention to have a positive experience," says psychologist Harriet Lerner, author of “Marriage Rules: A Manual for the Married and the Coupled Up.” "People get so child-focused that it becomes difficult for them to really talk to each other in advance about what's going to be the most fun, romantic way to spend the evening."

To help you get your creative wheels turning, we've come up with a list of five trapped-at-home date night ideas. It should go without saying, but all of these require commitment -- that means no work calls, Facebooking, or TV you don't agree on.

LOOK: 5 Creative At-Home Valentine's Day Ideas

Comments

[fallenarches]

03:57 PM on 02/14/2012

As the mother of grown sons (like, pushing 30 years old), I would add this one crucial must-have: perspective. The amount of time I spent agonizing over little stuff, while ignoring the big picture was probably not any more ridiculous than most normal parents, but I can still look back to particular moments and think, "Oh, yeah... wow... why was a worried about that, but not worried about that other thing...?" Perspective tells you that your #1 job (besides the basic one of simply keeping them alive and in good health) as a parent is to see to it that your children have the tools they need to grow into functionally independent adults capable of healthy relationships. That's it.

[fallenarches]

03:59 PM on 02/14/2012

oops... I meant to post this in reply to a different article. H-Post, you're treating me weird today....