Good Excuses to Go Out for Parents
Being a parent is both a joyful and stressful experience. Family Sociologist Nijole V. Benokraitis, author of "Marriages and Families: Changes, Choices, and Constraints," reports that while parents love their children, many experience anxiety and fatigue, and interpersonal relationships such as marriages can deteriorate after children arrive into couples' lives.
Parents who devote too much of their time to child rearing, often forget to nurture their own relationship as well as their individual interests. Having adult time alone from children is a vital component to a healthy marriage or to a romantic relationship.
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Stress Reduction
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Having time for yourself makes you a happier parent. Many parents experience stress, especially those working outside the home. Having an occasional break from the daily grind of work and home life can be a relief. To reduce the stress of parenting, especially for those with newborns, the Mayo Clinic suggests doing something you enjoy every day, either alone or with your partner.
While it may not always be possible to leave the house, taking a few minutes to get some fresh air or a short walk can help alleviate stress.
Keeping Romance Alive
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A lull in romance and intimacy is usual for parents, especially in the first few years of child rearing. Setting aside time on a regular basis to spend with your partner, even if it is only once a month can help keep the romance spark alive. Planning a lavish dinner or night at a hotel is nice, but unnecessary.
Choose an activity that simply allows you to reconnect with each other. Even an hour or two at a coffee shop can be enough to nurture your relationship.
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Individual Interests
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In addition to the need for parents nurturing their relationship, it is important to remember that a couple consists of two individuals, who can have some interests separate from each other. While sporting activities and hobbies can be shared, many couples choose to enjoy these activities on their own or with friends.
Having separate interests can strengthen loving bonds by allowing each person to value themselves as an individual as well as a member of a marriage or relationship.
Children's Independence
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According to developmental psychologists and authors Grace J. Craig and Wendy L. Dunn of "Understanding Human Development," children form healthier and stronger bonds with parents when given a moderate amount of independence. When parents spend time away their children, it allows children to form bonds with caregivers and peers.
Parents who plan adult-only outings also send the message to their children that they are not always the center of importance in the household. This message is positive in that it helps them gain a realistic sense of their place in the outside world, helping them to adjust into middle childhood and adolescence.
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