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Island Living 365

What Valentine’s Day is really like with children

January 19, 2016

 

With Valentines day fast approaching next month i’ve been thinking about the romantic day. Before our children came along Valentine’s Day might have involved going out for a romantic meal or perhaps if we were really lucky a night away somewhere lovely and luxurious. There might have been a bunch of roses, chocolate and perhaps some fizzy. Or perhaps our other half would run us a bath filled with bubbles. Whatever we did we would have had a lovely time as a couple but what does Valentine’s day look like now that we have children? Here is our guide to Valentine’s day as parents;

 

Couple making a heart. What Valentine's Day is really like with children

 

What Valentine’s Day is really like with children

  • It’s Valentine’s Day? I hadn’t even realised.

 

  • Your other half runs you a bath, delighted you leap in and sit down, only to realise that he has omitted to clear the bath of the toys and as a result you now have a collection of animals wedged up your bum.

 

  • You announce that you are going to cook your other half a romantic meal but in reality you are far too tired to cook from scratch so you buy it all in from Marks and Spencers and hide the boxes.

 

  • Your romantic dinner involves a chirping audience that should be in bed but have decided to come down and gatecrash. They then spend the dinner making very nuanced observations like, “have you burnt the dinner again Mummy?” And “Daddy, why are there no lights on and just candles? Is it so you don’t have to look at Mummy’s face?”

 

Netflix and chill

 

  • You are delighted when your other half announces the plan for Valentines Day to be Netflix and chill because well to you that is exactly what it means, sex does not feature on that agenda anywhere.

 

  • You settle down to your romantic netflix marathon and find that you have the concentration span of a gnat you can’t keep

 

  • up with the plot, subplots or characters. As a result you fall asleep and wake up on the sofa alone with one of your children’s snotty tissues stuck to your face.

 

  • You go to watch your wedding dvd but it won’t work as the children have been using it as a frisbee.

 

  • The best present your other half can give you is the promise of them getting up with the kids at the weekend.

 

  • Now your version of dressing sexy is scraping the yoghurt and snot stains of your clothes and remembering to put deodorant on.

 

  • You get excited when your other half puts the kettle on.

 

  • You can’t wait to go to bed to…..sleep.

 

 

Does our Valentines day sound like yours? We would love to know if you manage to celebrate it.

 

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Filed Under: Parenting

  1. Anna Brophy says

    January 19, 2016 at 9:48 am

    Ha!! Spot on! In fact this year I have already agreed to babysit for friends. Perhaps they can mind ours in 2017. Nice one. #TwinklyTuesday

    • islandliving365 says

      January 19, 2016 at 10:07 am

      That sounds like a plan to me, I would get in there quick and book them for 2017!

  2. Becky, Cuddle Fairy says

    January 19, 2016 at 11:52 am

    Ahhh how sweet & how true! Yes, Valentine’s Day has gone out the window in our house. It’s really lovely that you guys are making an effort still. Tea & sleep are the best gifts of all as parents! x

  3. Sian | The Mama Story says

    January 19, 2016 at 9:19 pm

    Well, Valentine’s Day is my birthday so it’s always been a bit different for me! And more so since having kids! We usually have a family day and go out somewhere and have lunch. Then I’m happy to go home and have birthday cake and sit down with magazines and Prosecco! Have a lovely Valentine’s Day whatever you do!
    #TheList

    • islandliving365 says

      January 20, 2016 at 9:08 am

      Oh that sounds lovely. You can’t go wrong with a bit of Prosecco and some magazines 🙂

  4. Annette says

    January 20, 2016 at 12:44 pm

    lol yes, it’s completely different once you have children. My husband likes to now surprise me with cool techie gifts – which he then later claims a few hours later. Have fun #TwinklyTuesday

    • islandliving365 says

      January 20, 2016 at 1:07 pm

      Haha, that is actually what my blog post tomorrow is about! 🙂

      • Annette says

        January 20, 2016 at 1:11 pm

        Great! Looking forward to reading it. Add me in if you tweet it so I can share x

  5. Annette says

    January 20, 2016 at 12:45 pm

    ps – cute blog theme 😉 #TwinklyTuesday

    • islandliving365 says

      January 20, 2016 at 1:09 pm

      Yep, its a good theme that one. All the best blogs have it 😉 x

      • Annette says

        January 20, 2016 at 1:10 pm

        totally 🙂 x

  6. Squirmy Popple says

    January 21, 2016 at 11:42 am

    My Valentine’s Day this year is likely to include dinner with the baby (who will throw half of it on the floor), followed by a sneaky glass of wine with my husband in front of the telly after she goes to bed. If she goes to bed. #coolmumclub

    • islandliving365 says

      January 21, 2016 at 1:44 pm

      Haha, fingers crossed your little one goes to bed so you can have that sneaky glass of wine 🙂

  7. Busy Working Mummy says

    January 21, 2016 at 1:06 pm

    We don’t celebrate valentines day at all. Cards I think we just about manage plus maybe a nicer meal sat at the table together rather than slobbing out in front of the tv, but we aren’t the most romantic types anyway so this suits us fine #coolmumclub x

    • islandliving365 says

      January 21, 2016 at 1:42 pm

      Most of the time we even forget the cards! Thanks for dropping by 🙂

  8. motherhoodtherealdeal says

    January 21, 2016 at 2:01 pm

    Haha love this – my mum asked if she wanted us to baby sit for Valentine’s Day and I have to say it has become such a farce that I had to try very hard not to laugh in her face!!! RIP V Day as we once knew it. Thanks so much for linking this up to #coolmumclub and making me chuckle! x

    Talya – http://www.motherhoodtherealdeal.com

    • islandliving365 says

      January 21, 2016 at 3:22 pm

      Haha, yep, RIP V Day! 🙂

  9. Louise (Little Hearts, Big Love) says

    January 28, 2016 at 7:31 am

    Brilliant and yes, very true. Netflix and chill definitely means what it says on the tin here – no hidden agenda for us. And yes, buying dinner from M&S and hiding the boxes always sounds good to me too. But it’s nice not to feel any pressure to do anything special for Valentine’s Day – we’re doing well if we just manage to get each other a card! #coolmumclub

    • islandliving365 says

      January 28, 2016 at 7:33 am

      haha, yes I always forget a card so cobble one together and try to say that it’s a heartfelt card because the kids made it!

  10. Unhinged Mummy (aka Janine Woods) says

    January 29, 2016 at 11:38 am

    Ha ha! My husband used to really spoil me on valentines day and I him but since we had the kids neither of us have any money and we’re both bloody knackered. Now we just quickly exchange a card in the morning before he rushes off to work and that’s only if we remember.

    #Visiting from #fridayfrolics

    • islandliving365 says

      January 29, 2016 at 11:39 am

      Glad we aren’t the only ones! 🙂

  11. Life Love and Dirty Dishes says

    January 29, 2016 at 1:34 pm

    cup of tea and an earyt night is my definition of romance now! Thanks for linking to #FridayFrolics

    • islandliving365 says

      January 29, 2016 at 1:37 pm

      haha, that sounds perfect! 🙂

  12. MummysReasonsToSmile (@sarahnblogger) says

    January 29, 2016 at 2:44 pm

    haha this is great. so many times ive gotten in the bath after running it.. bubbles bath salts the lot to find a pile of bath toys in with me lol . sadly due to lack of babysitter we tend to stay in for valentines lol but always try to make it as nice as we can even if like you said that means giving the other one a lie in or nap lol xx

    • islandliving365 says

      January 29, 2016 at 4:39 pm

      Yep, I think that is the best present in the world nowadays-getting a lie-in! 🙂

  13. ljdove23 says

    February 13, 2016 at 10:23 am

    Very true!! We don’t really celebrate it at all now we have the children but I will be trying to pull out the “Valentines day lie in” card….even though technically it is his turn!!! #justanotherlinky

    • islandliving365 says

      February 13, 2016 at 5:06 pm

      haha, good luck with getting your lie in 🙂

  14. rhymingwithwine says

    February 14, 2016 at 2:09 am

    Hahaha love this and it is absolutely true. Really giggled at “the kids have been using it as a frisby” Hope you have a fab day… and manage to stay awake for at least the first half an hour 😉

    #justanotherlinky xx

    • islandliving365 says

      February 14, 2016 at 3:06 pm

      Had a lovely day so far which has involved a trip to a dinosaur park because Valentine’s day is all about the dinosaurs apparently….. 🙂 x

      • rhymingwithwine says

        February 14, 2016 at 3:27 pm

        Naturally! ;0) x

  15. Something Crunchy Mummy says

    February 19, 2016 at 1:27 pm

    Spot on! Valentine’s Day is just a normal day with some added bubbly when they are in bed. Thanks for linking up to #justanotherlinky xx

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Hi, I’m Emma

Mum to two girls and wife to Mr C.
We used to live in wild and wonderful Yorkshire on the edge of the moors. We have now moved to the rather lovely and sunny Jersey, Channel Islands. Read about our adventures here.

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“BiBs

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