72% of parents say they still get butterflies when they see their partner

The pandemic has made these parents more attuned to love, with many planning to be more romantic with their partner this year.

A new survey of 2,000 parents of children ages 5 to 18 examined how they have kept their romance alive nearly two years into the pandemic.

Seventy-two percent of respondents said they still get butterflies when they see their partner, and three in four shared that meeting their significant other was "love at first sight."

That's why it's no surprise that eight in 10 couples are open to recreating their first date to relive those moments (79%).

Conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Care.com, the study revealed that 78% of parents believe having regular date nights are vital in keeping the love train going.

On average, parents have had seven date nights since the pandemic began, with some more creative than others, such as “watching movies,” “taking turns preparing a romantic dinner” or having “picnics outside in the backyard.”

Before the pandemic, most parents said they were usually homebodies and preferred to stay in instead of having a date night (72%).

While most parents typically only have date nights for special occasions (79%), the perfect date night can range for different couples — some like a night out dancing (44%) or sightseeing (28%), while others prefer to stay home and talk (46%) or relax (42%).

And they’d likely have some help from smaller hands, as two in three parents said that their kids like to get involved in helping plan their date night.

When it comes to Valentine’s Day, most respondents view the holiday as somewhat romantic (82%), compared to 52% of their partners.

Surprisingly, men are more likely to get wrapped up in the romantic holiday than women (85% vs. 80%).

Still, three-quarters of respondents said Valentine’s Day is an important date night for them and their partners (76%).

“Parents with children of all ages continue to be challenged by the pandemic,” said Sheri Reed, managing editor of Care.com. “After two years trying to keep their families healthy and functioning, many have had to put romance on the sidelines. Date nights, like Valentine’s Day, are great opportunities for parents to prioritize their relationship as a couple as well.”

While parents love their little ones endlessly, 78% said they sometimes need a break to destress after being home and helping them with remote learning.

On average, parents feel they need a break from their kids up to four times a week.

Meanwhile, 72% of respondents feel guilty for going on a date without their children — which is why most parents try to keep their outings short so that they can come home to their children (79%).

“If you feel a sense of guilt when leaving the kids at home for a date night, those feelings are completely normal,” added Reed. “By taking advantage of trusted resources for finding the right sitter, parents can rest assured their children are safe at home while they enjoy that much-needed time alone.”