Mommy.  Daddy.  Daddy.  Mommy.  Mommy.  Mommy.  Daddy.  Does this sound familiar?  I have 3 children aged 4, 2 and 1.  These sounds are pretty familiar in our household.  Alone time with my husband is hard to come by, but I have always had the philosophy after my husband and I married almost 8 years ago that we would always make time for ourselves.  After having so many young kids, we have to get creative sometimes.  It can take a lot of effort, but we think it's best to always stay connected and not be lost in our children.  So, how do we do it?

The obvious answer is to hire a babysitter.  Since we are fairly new to the area, we do not know many people, so this is not always possible.  It can also get pretty expensive! 

Since I am pretty cheap when it comes to this, I always try to enlist the help of my family and friends.  With us, this can also be a challenge since our friends are all having children and our families live 2 hours away in different directions.

Since our friends are all having children, trade babysitting.  One night watch your friends' children and then another night they can watch yours.  This works out great because no money is spent and everyone gets to enjoy their evenings!

Set aside a few hours after the kids go to bed and stick with it.  The time spent may even have to be on the weekend while the kids nap.  Snuggle while watching a movie, take a walk or just sit outside together.  Wake up early and have breakfast together without having to feed the baby, or scrambling around to get the kids ready for school.

No matter what, make sure you spend alone time together each week.  The time spent will open communication and you will be able to enjoy each other without wiping noses, talking over screaming or picking up toys.

By Guest Blogger from Mommies with Cents

For most parents, child care is sought out because of necessity. I didn't realize how important and complicated the process was until we were knee-deep in reference checks and interviews.  Whether it's a 9-5 job or simply a much needed date night, finding the right person or entity to take care of your child is an important process.

Determine your needs.  If you will require 30-40 hours per week of child care, it might be wise to consider a preschool or child care center with an organized program.  On the contrary, if your child care needs are sporadic or flexible, an occasional baby sitter might be more appropriate.  Sitting down to discuss or write down your exact child care needs will help focus and guide your efforts to find the solution.

Do your homework.  Does the preschool you're looking to place your child in follow state-mandated ratios? Have you completed a background check on the nanny you're looking to hire? Does the teenager you're speaking to about babysitting for the occasional night out have experience taking care of infants, todd

lers, or preschoolers?  Be sure to research your options carefully so that your child is cared for in a safe, healthy, loving environment.

Be cost conscious. With pencil in hand, calculate the true cost of child care versus the amount of money you'll earn from employment.  For some families, full-time child care, particularly for more than one child, may negate the earning potential of one parent.  Evaluate your budget and determine if other cost-saving measures can be implemented so one parent can stay home if desired.

Go with your instincts.  Sometimes, I'll meet someone and we'll click, a friendship developing almost instantly.  Other times, a connection is just not meant to be.  Give yourself the time and the freedom to interview and meet with several facilities and potential child care providers.  If you're undecided, take some time to think over the situation and plan to meet again.

Get recommendations.  For six months, we employed a part-time

nanny, recommended by a fellow mom at the playgroup our children attended.  Friends, family, neighbors, and fellow parents can serve as a resource for a nanny who may be looking for additional hours, a local preschool you may not know about, or a fabulous home day care program.

Schedule a trial.  During the interview process, I scheduled a trial day with the nanny to observe how she interacted with my son and how my son responded to her.  Similarly, many preschools and formal day care programs will allow a trial day to help make a decision about the facility.  This is your time to observe child/provider interactions, routines, cleanliness, and more.

Entrusting your child to another is a difficult decision.  As a parent, I want to find someone who I trust will care for my children in much the same way I would.  After I've spent time researching the right option, I have to trust that I've made the best decision possible.  Knowing that my son's preschool has an open door policy assures me that at any moment, I can drive the short distance to his school to check in.  Surprisingly, I've yet to feel compelled to do so; hence I know that he's in good hands.

By guest blogger, Caryn Baily, Rockinmama