Do you remember rmance? Candlelit dinners? Late nights out and lazy lie ins? Remember still having enough energy to do anything more than flop into bed in your baggy sweatshirt or shapeless nightie? I do. And I believe that just because I have children, that romance needn’t be a thing of the past.

While it’s difficult to manage a romantic and fulfilling relationship when you have small (or even not so small) children, but it is possible.

Here are the Parent Gossip top tips for keeping the sparks of passion alive while you bring up your bundles of joy.

Top tip number one is to remember that you are not alone. Research has proven that as we become parents and the pressures of family life start to mount, many of us start to question whether our relationships are in trouble. It is highly unlikely that you have fallen out of love wth eachother, and more likely that you are simply feeling the strain of trying to do too much in too little time.

The next thing to do is to talk, and keep talking. Make sure that your partner understands that you would like to spend a bit more time together as a couple. Make sure that your partner feels valued and knows that they are not playing second fiddle to the terrible two year old in the next room. This will help to avoid destructive resentment.

Make it a date! Schedule in some time to do something as a couple. Just the two of you. It doesn’t have to cost anything. Arrange to mmet eachother at the dining table at 8pm for a game of scrabble over a glass of wine, or go for a walk together while the children are at nursery. What ever you choose to do, make sure it is time you spend concentrating on eachother.

Babysitters are the best! If you have the luxury of living near your parents and they are willing to help out, take full advantage of any and all offers to babysit so that you can stay connected with your partner. Failing that, find a good babysitter in your neighbourhood or strike up a bargain with other parents who live near by. I hvae an informal arrangement with our next door neighbour’s teenage daughter, who minds the Witchlings every couple of weeks so that we can go out for a couple of hours in the evening. We also arrange for the Witchlings to have sleepovers at their friends houses. In return, we host sleepovers here so that the other host parents can get out for the evening.

Talk some more. Tell eachother what your dreams and aspirations are. What you mean to each other. Talk talk talk! But DON’T talk about the children or money or chores or the lawn that still needs mowing! This is time you need to spend on eachother.