Couple time on a family holiday: So the togetherness is not neglected
If you go on holiday with your family, you want to relax, experience new things and have a good time. When the offspring scurrys around you, however, it is usually not so easy to treat yourself to a break as a couple. We have put together 7 tips on how to do this.
1. Don’t expect too much
Of course, the (family) reality continues on holiday. As parents, you have to take care of a lot – maybe even more than at home. That should be clear to you. If you start the break with adjusted expectations and keep reminding yourself of this, you will most likely have a better time.
In addition, you should discuss in advance what you expect from the trip. This avoids a lot of frustration, which you otherwise like to blame each other. And thus enables the right mood – for the holiday itself, but also for a break as a couple.
2. Good holiday preparation
If you take care of a lot before your holiday, you don’t have to do it on site and have your head a little clearer: Enough diapers, the children’s favourite snacks, a travel pharmacy, distractions for bad weather (such as games, painting and handicrafts or a tablet with children’s films), possible destinations for a trip and a rough schedule – all this can be prepared. Of course, scheduling should not be a tight corset that leaves no room for spontaneity and flexibility. But a certain daily schedule is certainly helpful, so that some couple time fits into it.
In addition, it may be worthwhile to spend a little more money on a multi-bedroom accommodation. Because if the little ones have their own room, the adults also have a nice retreat for themselves.
3. Balanced programme
The holiday time is limited and you want to experience as much as possible. Nevertheless, it is important to keep the balance – i.e. not to cram too many program points into the stay. Days with plenty of action should also be followed by days when everyone can relax and enjoy time together. Balanced children accept care much better and then give their parents breaks for each other.
4. Plan the date night
In addition to a general preparation of the holiday, a little planning for the date night is also appropriate: What options are there in your accommodation or nearby? Does the baby monitor work in the hotel restaurant, spa or café outside the door? Is it possible to book a babysitter? The operator can answer such questions and certainly give tips beyond that. With regard to the reception of the baby monitor, for example, it may be useful to ask for a room facing the street if there is a restaurant there.
A not negligible point: If you have reserved a table and booked a babysitter, there is less chance that you will simply fall into bed exhausted on the evening in question without leaving the accommodation.
5. Looking for care
As long as the children scurry around you, you can’t really spend quality time together. Even if the little ones are sleeping, the choice of options is usually limited. But if you go on holiday with your grandparents, other relatives or friends, the companions can also take care of the kids – and may even be well-rehearsed in it anyway.
The alternative is professional care, either as a concrete activity program during the day or with a babysitter in the evenings. Of course, not only the children, but also the parents must feel comfortable with the care. So look for options in advance, search the Internet for experiences of other parents or reviews of offers and talk to the operator of your accommodation. If this is important to you, you can also try to get an impression of the care or the babysitter at a meeting in advance – either without children or consciously with them. Then you can really switch off during your candlelight dinner.
6. Don’t allow distraction
Switching off is a good keyword. Because mobile phones and tablets often prevent us from giving the other person the attention he deserves. Therefore, the following applies to quality time: Electronic devices (except for the baby monitor) remain in the pocket. Surely you want to be reachable if there is something with the children. But you can also hear the ringing – you don’t have to hold your smartphone in your hand or put it on the table, a loud setting is enough.
7. Couple time doesn’t just have to mean time for two
Surely it is nice as a couple to have time for yourself on holiday. But even in the presence of the children, a lot is possible if you decide to appreciate and actively enjoy even small things. A longer car or train journey, when the offspring is asleep or distracted, for example, offers the opportunity for a quiet conversation without time pressure. During the afternoon nap with changing cloth, stroller or buggy is still a long walk in it. And also in between there is room for nice words, a loving gesture, a hug, a kiss. Get involved with your family and the time together!