Husband coming home for R&R soon. Need tips

Amy - posted on 02/11/2011

We just play video games and make some day trips. On R&R I just let my husband be. We have alot of kids and they are all in activities so he either joins us or not. One of our favorite things to do when are kids were little was to feed them and have a romantic take out dinner after they went to bed. I think R&R is more about the relationship between the grownups than the children. I am not saying the children aren't important but you do not want the mayhem after he leaves again. You could try just renting movies and having poopcorn.

Samantha - posted on 02/10/2011

Try not to plan, go with the flow. A lot of the time, they just like to have time to sit and relax and spend time at home with the family. We just had the best R&R ever, at home! Never have I felt closer to my husband. Plus, with the children being so young, it would be less stressful to have them packed up in the car for most of it, just getting from point A to point B.

Danielle - posted on 02/10/2011

I would say have the at home time with the fam. Let him play with the kids and bond with them and then when they go to sleep you two have your time with cudling up and watch a movie or something like that. But to me the more family time ya'll have the more bonding ya'll will do

Aubrey - posted on 02/10/2011

Sounds Perfect! :) Good Luck, and enjoy having him home! :)

Corie - posted on 02/10/2011

Thanks Ladies. I think giving him one on one time with each of the kids is a good idea. I'm thinking we can go to the Children's Museum. I remember when he was home on R&R form his last deployment he didn't handle large groups well, so I will let him take the lead on what activities we do.

Aubrey - posted on 02/10/2011

Don't try to plan...just have ideas! :) It will make life easier in my opinion. Between the fact that he will be tired, and his body clock will be backwards, and the stimulation of having the kids around, and their activity, and then of course, the kids schedules too.....trying to plan stuff might make it more difficult, and frustrating if your plans don't go the way you thought they would.
The B&B sounds perfect for a little adult getaway. After that, I say just follow your soldier's lead. See if there are specifics he wants to do. I think letting Daddy have some one on one time with the kids is good too...if he's up for it. We went to the Zoo, the Aquarium, swam in our pool, ate out mostly so we didn't have to worry about dishes, and such, and just stayed closed to home otherwise. The first week of my husband's R&R a Hurricane came through too...so we were forced to stay inside and enjoy each other's company! LOL (and we have a 2 year old and an 8 year old!)

Kelsie - posted on 02/09/2011

I think you should prob just have lots of sexy time (well minus the kids) hahaha :)

Elizabeth - posted on 02/09/2011

My hubs and I just did the B&B thing while he's home on his R&R too... it was very relaxing to not have the little one with us.
Other than that though, depending on where you live I would suggest doing regular family things like going to the zoo and going on walks. Maybe daddy can have one on one time (especially for the 2 year old) and do something specific with each child. Don't try to plan everything out though, it's important to have down time and to just hang out too :)

Kaitlin - posted on 02/09/2011

Well...I have to say we are limited on activities too with a 3 year old and a 4 month old. Well, if you live next to a park or playground and if the weather is good where you live, you could have a family picnic there and the kiddos could play and you all can eat and bond as a family again. You guys can also cuddle up on the couch and watch a new movie and eat popcorn and what not. Umm...you could go to a Chuck E. Cheese and let the kids play while you and your hubby get to hang and talk, if you have one of those in your area too. Well these are things I would do anyway. Well other than those thing...you could try to find fun things to do around the house. Other than that I don't know. I hope these ideas help though. Good luck and congrats on the hubby coming home!