This is just as much a PSA for myself as anyone else.

If you're one of the married dads out there. Don't forget to try setting aside time for a "wife date" without the kids. Try to do it once a month if you can. It's for the wellness of the family. If you're not married and are on good terms with your kids mother - same rules apply within that ecosphere of life.

Doesn't have to be a big financial endeavor. Get someone to watch the kids and grab a bite to eat. Maybe catch a movie or just get coffee and go for a walk. Just do SOMETHING together that you will both enjoy and that will help you both enjoy one another's company.

The main rule here is to spend the time with the other person - present, in the moment, with them. No talking about the kids. Keep it to a minimum. Just be in it with your person and let them do the same with you.

Took my wife and I a long time to get to a place where we can do this... but we have tickets to see a stand-up comedian in a few weeks and get dinner... and then next month we're leaving the kids w/ the grandparents for a whole weekend and we have a hotel room at a nearby city where we can walk around the harbor, check out the shops, maybe visit a museum or something. We're hitting up a spa on the way into town for a couples massage, too. This isn't even our anniversary... it's just been waay overdue so we're doing it.

Frankly, I can't wait till next month's "adventure". It's been years since we'd been able to just get away for a weekend.

Point is - you can't be the kind of dad you need to be if you OR your partner aren't taken care of. Your kids will see the resentment pile up in your relationship. They'll notice and comment. It's super important to make a point to keep that stuff down by taking time to keep it fun, and every once and a while splurge on one another... it's well worth it in my experience.

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