Relationship SOS Challenge

Aug 1, 2011 by cafebebemama

Do you ever feel like your relationship is a bit like this beach…a bit bleak and lacking in WAVES?! Do you find that you’ve become complacent in your house? Do you sit on opposite couches, after the kids are in bed and stare blankly at the television without talking? Or worse yet, are you on one laptop blogging and Tweeting while your other half is watching telly/on the iPad/snoring? Or even worse still, are you in the opposite rooms of the house and text/email/Tweet each other if you want/need something? Is the word “date” a four letter word and/or something you eat?

Thankfully, the Cafe Bebe house is not entirely like this BUT it has been AT LEAST 6 months since the last time Mark and I went on a date. I say AT LEAST as I truly can’t remember WHEN our last date was. I do remember that we went to a really lovely curry restaurant in the village next to ours but when…no clue! Now Mark and I have a very good relationship. 6 years after meeting, falling in love and moving continents, we still LIKE each other, enjoy spending time together, kiss (etc…) and are happier now than in the early days. Yes, our life is completely different and sometimes stressful and frustrating but ultimately we’re totally committed to each other and to our marriage.

Our relationship isn’t perfect by any means and I know that we can both admit that there are times when we do each other’s heads in. We get cross with each other, I stomp, he stops talking, we get over it. Life carries on and life is good. But I worry, particularly since having children, that we don’t take enough time for US as a couple. We have slipped into the role of Mummy and Daddy very easily (we even call each other Mummy & Daddy more than we probably should) and we give everything we have to being a family. But what about being Mark and Karin? What about time for us to focus on us and not worry about being Mummy & Daddy? That’s in short supply, for sure!

And I know I’m not alone. Last week I did a quick poll on Twitter asking when was the last time you went on a date with your other half. One response was promising…two weeks ago! Most responses were just like mine…”can’t remember”, “six months ago”, “2 years ago”. And by “date”, I mean going somewhere/doing something that does not involve the children. We must change this! Relationship SOS to the rescue!

I’m challenging you, that’s right, YOU! It’s August 1st today. You have 31 days to make arrangements for and go on AT LEAST ONE date with your other half. It doesn’t have to be big, clever or uber-romantic. It just has to be OUT with your other half…the two of you…ALONE together. You could do something as simple as have the inlaws babysit for a few hours and you two go to the pub for a drink/snack. Or you could push the boat out and go to dinner, go golfing, go sailing, go dancing. Or, if like many, you don’t have resources for babysitters, put the kids to bed, have a picnic dinner on the floor of the lounge with the telly OFF and just TALK. Simples.

I’m going to provide a linky at the bottom of this post. This linky is for you to COMMIT to joining the Relationship SOS Challenge. Write up a post this week telling us about you and your other half and a bit about your relationship (keep it clean sister). Tell us the last time you went on a date with your other half and WHY you need to commit to this challenge. Then, at the end of the month I will put up another post/linky where you can report back on your success! This first month it will be up to YOU to organise, plan and orchestrate the date. Next month, challenge your other half to do the same. After all, you both have to WORK to keep your relationship alive.

So, who’s with me?! Isn’t it time to put a bit of magic back in your relationship? Or at least talk to your other half without the telly going and the kids running around you? Ready, steady, SOS!