Babysitting

[Sorsha]

We very rarely actually "hire" someone, usually just trade with a friend or relative or bribe the 14 year old.

We used to try to make the effort to go out as a couple about once a month. Even if it was just to a movie and maybe for a cup of coffee afterwards, at least we got a little "adult" time.

However, since we started doing the mutual Self-Help housing program, we haven't had to time to do ANYTHING except build houses. We were just saying to eachother the other day that we really want to try to take the time to go out soon, we really miss it. Hopefully in July-ish, when the houses are done, we will be able to get out a little more.

We haven't been out as a couple since DH's work Xmas party in December, and that was NOT waht I consider "relaxing" or "enjoyable". Before that it was July for our anniversary.

 

[PlutoLuvr]

Once a week usually. We hire one of the local teenage girls. Gives them some money in their pockets, experience with kids, keeps them out of trouble.

 

[brockash]

It depends. Right now we're living close to my mom and sisters, so we'd try to go out once a week. Soon, we'll be moving and I've told my DH that there won't be anymore date nights at that point. I'd feel so bad for leaving them with someone else while I'm not at work. I'm not a fan of the daycare thing to begin with, but I don't think I'd do it if I wasn't at work. If it's someone from my family I don't have a problem with it at all, because I know they're very well taken care of and honestly usually have more fun with them, because they get spoiled, but to me that's totally different than someone I don't know that well. Now, that I'm thinking about it, I don't really know why I feel this way, because we used to have a babysitter a few times a month when I was a kid, but I don't know I just really wouldn't feel comfortable.

 

[Pigeon]

We've never hired a sitter. Once in a blue moon, maybe twice a year, I swap sitting with a friend.

We mostly actually like being with our kids.

 

[rparmfamily]

Somewhere between once a year and never.

 

[MariDisney]

I voted never. My DH and I do go out, but it's when DD is at her bio-dad's place, which is about 1 night per weekend. If we didn't have that situation I think we'd hire someone around once a month.

 

[Planogirl]

None now since DS is 16 and DH is so busy but we had a teenager come now and then when DS was 4-6. We would go out to an "adult" restaurant and maybe stop off for a drink or two. When he got older he spent some time with his cousins so then we might go to a favorite British pub once in a while.

 

[golfgal]

We went out maybe once/week when we needed to hire a babysitter. We liked being with our kids too but we liked being with each other without kids too. Now our kids are old enough that we don't need a sitter any longer and we hardly ever go out together because we are so dang busy going to kid stuff .

 

[mjantz]

Usually about once a month. Mostly its just going to see a movie when we visit family but occasionally we'll hire a babysitter is there's something we really want to do. I know we want to see Star Trek when it comes out in May so we might hire a sitter for that.
We love our kids but we need couple time too. They'll both be out of the home in a little over 10 years but we'll hopefully be married for 30+ beyond that. Our couple relationship needs to be nurtured just as much as our relationship with our kids IMO.