The 9 stages of 'date night' every parent knows to be true.

Date night. It’s definitely not what it used to be once upon a time ‘pre-kids’.

Between coordinating schedules, babysitting and actually finding the energy after a long AF week, it can be hard to find the time or be bothered.

A photo posted by :heavy_multiplication_x: OLIVIA WHITE :heavy_multiplication_x: (@houseofwhite_) on Nov 18, 2016 at 11:40pm PST

And while I definitely think date night is a vital part of a relationship totally worth it, let’s be real about what date night’s really like when you’ve got kids.

I’m sure every parent will relate.

1. You consider a bit of BB cream and your best jeans as ‘dressing up’.
2. When you finally make it out the door it will feel like you’ve just escaped from Alcatraz – OHH SWEET SWEET FREEDOM!
3. You couldn’t give a sh-t where you go, as long as they serve alcohol.
4. But you’ll then have two sips of wine and almost fall asleep face first in your entree.
5. You’ll text/call the babysitter at least five times in the first hour just to check everything’s okay.
6. You’ll probably end up talking about your kids all night. “So Annabelle did poos in the potty TWICE today”.
7. You’ll plan to head out for a movie after dinner but reconsider by dessert to just head home because it’s 8:30pm and that’s so very late.
8. You’ll have the best of intentions of ending the night with a cheeky bedroom sesh, but fall asleep the second your head hits the pillow.
9. But even if your husband had managed to throw his leg over you, you would have been interrupted because the toddler’s in your bed five minutes later.

But you know what, it doesn’t matter.

Because since becoming a parent I’ve also realised that you don’t need to spend heaps of money, go to expensive restaurants or prove anything to anyone.

Just spending just a few hours in the company of the man I love is all it’s about.

It’s a luxury, I appreciate that time together so much more than I ever did before — even if date night does end up just being pizza and beer on the couch because the babysitter cancelled.

Olivia White is one of Australia’s most loved mummy bloggers. While raising her two young daughters she runs her website House of White where she shares the struggles, triumphs and every day realities of life with young children.

This post has been republished with permission.