Yes, it's alright to leave the kids at home so the two of you can enjoy an evening out.  In fact, it's recommended.  Going out with your spouse teaches your children that marriage and partnership are important.  They get to see how fulfilling a relationship can be.

Maybe you still think it's unfair to leave the children at home with a babysitter.  Consider this: maybe the kids would like a change of pace, someone new to interact and play with, someone with different rules and ways of doing things.  Even children who have difficulty at first will eventually come around.  Learning to have fun without the parents always around is an important step in growing towards independence.  Leaving the kids behind may be good for them.

But what about you?  Can you bear the thought of leaving them at home?  Are you afraid that something horrible might happen while you're gone or are you just feeling guilty about spending some money on yourself instead of the kids?  If the child balks at being left with the sitter, how serious is his objection?  Most of our fears are more guilt that reality.

Try overcomin gyour own anxieties by going on a trial run.  Go out for just an hour and check in half way through.  Over time, you can extend this time away.  Another technique is to go out during the child's nap or after you've tucked her in for the night.  They might not even know you're gone.  You'll find that after a few times, you can conquor yours and your child's fears and have a good time.

Once you've decided to go out, then you have to find a babysitter.  That's a subject for antoher article.  Keep posted for new posts!

By Wilferd A Peterson


Happiness in marriage is not something that just
  happens.  A good marriage must be
  created.  In the art of marriage
the little things are the big
things…

 It is never being too old to hold hands.

 It is remembering to say, “I love you,” at least once each
  day.

 It is never going to sleep angry

 It is at no time taking the other for granted, the courtship
  shouldn’t end with the honeymoon, it should continue through all the
years.

 It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives, it
is standing together facing the world.

 It is doing things for each other, not in the attitude of duty or
sacrifice, but in the spirit of joy.

 It is speaking words of appreciation and demonstrating gratitude
in thoughtful ways. 

It is not expecting the husband to wear a halo or the
wife to have the wings of an angel. 
It is not looking for perfection in each other. 
It is cultivating flexibility, patience, understanding and a sense of
humor.

 It is having the capacity to forgive and forget.

 It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can
  grow.

 It is finding room for the things of the spirit.  It is a common search for the good and
the beautiful.

 It is establishing a relationship as counseled by Louis K.
  Anspacher, in which “the independence is equal, the dependence is mutual and
  obligation is reciprocal.”

 It is not only marrying the right partner, it is being the right
partner.

 It is discovering what marriage can be, at its best, as expressed
in the words Mark Twain used in a tribute to his wife: “Wherever she was, there
was Eden.”

It’s been awhile since I’ve posted an entry.  We were sick for a few weeks in
November.  It seems like this is  going to be the month to be sick for us. 
Last year, we missed out on going to Thanksgiving dinner with our family
because we got sick just before Thanksgiving.


For many couples, an illness can cause a strain in  their relationship.  The strain can
be relieved by keeping a positive attitude.  Find something to look forward to even
if it’s just getting better.


Being sick at the same makes it difficult to be  positive.  Talk about how you’re
feeling.  It will help to create an  attitude of teamwork.  You might 
begin to feel that you can get through this together.   It could even make your marriage stronger.


Last year, we had some really good friends who brought us plates
loaded with Thanksgiving goodies. 
This year, we got well enough to go eat at a dinner party. 
But most importantly we spent the holidays together.