Make "couple time" a priority in your life.

In the early days of a relationship, romance seems to come naturally. Couples in the first stages of love somehow find plenty of time to be together, have fun, and show each other how much they care. But as time goes by and responsibilities increase, there seem to be fewer and fewer opportunities for romantic moments. Parents of young children can feel especially deprived of quality "couple time," but it doesn't have to be that way.

Lisa Spector lives in Los Angeles and considers herself a "woman, wife, and mom." Despite the pressures and responsibilities of managing her household and raising her kids, she makes her romantic relationship with her husband a priority in her life. She offers these ideas for all couples hoping to keep their romantic fires burning:

• Set an example for the kids. Spector knows that it's very easy for parents to fall into patterns where their world becomes centered entirely on the kids. But we all want our kids to grow up with healthy and positive ideas about love and marriage, so it's important to set a good example. Letting the children see that mom and dad still love each other is good for the whole family.

• Make a Saturday special. Couples often tend to put their romantic lives on hold for long periods of time, waiting for a big vacation or getaway. Spector and her husband prefer to take smaller trips, like getting a local hotel room on a Saturday night, having breakfast together, and then heading home.

• Bring romance into daily routines. Spector thinks that the little things mean a lot. Things like kissing in the car before going into the house or writing "I love you" on the bathroom mirror can show your loved one that the romance is still alive and strong. Spector likes to hide love notes in her husband's shoe or pocket, so he'll find them later.

• Look back on earlier times. One easy way to reconnect with your partner is to look back on all the fun or romantic times you've spent together. Sometimes in the evening Spector and her husband will get out their photo albums and reminisce about all the things they've done and moments they've shared. No matter what they do, Spector and her husband believe in making the time to be together, even if it's just ten minutes, so they never go too long without being friends as well as husband and wife.

For more help with keeping the romance in your relationship, check out the following organizations and websites:

The RoMANtic's Guide
www.theromantic.com

Cyber Parent
www.cyberparent.com

The Relationship Institute
123 S. Main Street, Suite 100, Royal Oak, Michigan
www.relationship-institute.com