Nights Out Should Be Mandatory!

Every Friday, my better half texts me to make sure it's okay to go for a few drinks with is colleagues. He's not so much asking, as much as he's checking to make sure we don't have other plans, and I always say, "of course!" It's one of the reasons why we've been together so long. We both appreciate the importance of spending time with ourselves and with our friends. It's not necessary to spend every waking moment with each other! As long as there's an open line of communication open and plans that you make together aren't constantly being interrupted, spending time apart is good for the both of you!

At the beginning of last week, my partner decided to ring up his close group of guy friends and organize a boys night out for the upcoming weekend. A few years back, there would have been a resounding YES! But these days, my partner is the only one who doesn't have a wife, child and baby on the way, instead, he has a girlfriend who works a million hours a week. Dealing with friends with kids is a whole other matter, planning boys-night-out out requires permission from the wives, and that's not a guaranteed thing.

Now, I'm not a parent, and I don't pretend to know what it's like to be at home with a newborn and a toddler, but I can certainly empathize. But what I do know, is that each parent needs and deserves a break from the chaos every now and then. Infants may require around-the-clock care, but that doesn't mean that the two of you have to be chained to your little tyke until they're off to Kindergarten. Despite what the North American mentality is about child-rearing, you don't have to give up your life to raise your children. Provided you're not some sort of vagabond, or a participant in illicit activities, your kids are along for the ride, and not the other way around.

If you want to go out with your girls to let your hair down, do it! You just spent 9 months doing absolutely everything for that little being inside of you, take your life back and have some fun. And your better half may not have had to physically go through a pregnancy, they've endured your mood swings, bizarre bodily functions, odd cravings, random fits and absurd demands. Don't you think they deserve a break too?

Look, you don't need to be a psychology major to know that not taking time for yourselves now, means your relationship is going to be on life support in the near future. So relax, let your beau get out for some all-important guy time. And don't feel guilty about calling up your gals for a spa day!