Aug 2
4 min read
6 Ways to Connect as a Couple After You’ve Brought Your New Baby Home
If you’re looking to reconnect as a couple post-baby, check out these tips from Emily Graham, founder of the support website Mighty Moms.
New parents are often exhausted and stressed out, yet totally in love with their new baby. At the same time, couples tend to spend far less time together in a romantic sense than ever before.
When you’re pulling all-nighters to feed, change, and soothe the baby, tensions can run high. If you’re looking to reconnect as a couple post-baby, check out these tips from Emily Graham, founder of the support website Mighty Moms.
1. Make Meals Together a Regular Thing.
Experts say that family mealtimes are one of the most important traditions you can start with your children. At this point, consider mealtimes a beneficial time for parents to reconnect, especially since the baby will probably sleep through dinner anyway.
Both you and your partner need to eat, so sharing the preparation duties (even if it’s just heating up a meal from the freezer) and sitting down together can help facilitate reconnection. Plus, food can bring joy, especially when it’s a meal you didn’t cook yourself. Be sure to focus on healthy, nutritious food.
2. Prioritize Freshening Up Your Home.
Household chores are probably falling to the wayside lately. But spending a few minutes per day picking up and decluttering, wiping down messy surfaces, and tossing in a load (or four) of laundry can help you feel like a multitasking god or goddess.
With a cleaner home, and a window or two circulating a fresh breeze, any feelings of negativity or cabin fever will dissipate. You’ll feel revitalized and may even have enough energy to hold a full conversation with your partner.
3. Find Something Else to Bond Over.
You and your better half are no doubt bonding over the tiny human you’ve just welcomed home, but you may already be finding that your conversations center on diapers, feedings, and everything else infant-related. To help reconnect to who you were pre-baby, find something else you can bond over (in addition to your adorable bundle).
You may both enjoy working out or getting into the kitchen to whip up a creative dish, for example. But terrible reality TV shows and mindless video games are fair game for shared hobbies, too. So, slip into some comfortable clothes, snuggle up on the couch, and binge watch shows you love together.
4. Get Outside and Get Moving.
Heading outdoors is always an excellent way to refresh your body and mind, and it can work wonders for your relationship, too. You’ll bring the baby along, of course.
But taking a leisurely walk as a new family gives you all the benefits of fresh air and time spent moving your body. Even if it’s all you have the energy for, a walk around the block can mean a few minutes of time doing something other than sitting on the couch with your partner.
5. Give Each Other Compliments.
When you’re half-asleep most of the time and barely able to squeeze in time for a shower, neither of you is feeling your best. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t things you appreciate about your partner.
Sharing your sincere admiration for your spouse can do wonders for your bond. As Oprah Magazine’s expert explains, compliments can help “nurture and enhance” relationships. Your praise should be authentic and genuine, and both partners should partake for the best results.
6. Split Parenting Responsibilities.
Sharing responsibilities with your partner can help lighten the load for both of you. Plus, the more you work together, the more bonded you’ll feel. But as Fatherly highlights, the exact ratio of each person’s responsibilities isn’t what matters most—what’s crucial is that you openly discuss who’ll do what and when. Figure out a time you can talk about splitting things up, and then hand out chores based on both partners’ input.
Growing your family is an exhausting endeavor. But when you have a supportive partner to share the journey with, things get a little bit easier. By implementing these six ideas for bonding with your better half, you can enjoy those early days more and stress less.
About Emily Graham
Emily Graham is the creator of Mighty Moms. She believes being a mom is one of the hardest jobs around and wanted to create a support system for moms from all walks of life. On her site, she offers a wide range of info tailored for busy moms, from how to reduce stress to creative ways to spend time together as a family. Contact: emilygraham@mightymoms.net.
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If you’re facing a difficult situation with your co-parent, you’ll need to speak with a qualified attorney to protect your children’s rights. The New Jersey family law attorneys at Smedley Law Group, P.C. represent clients throughout the state, including West Deptford, Woodbury Heights, Runnemede, and Westville. We understand how challenging this time can be for you, which is why we will fight hard to protect your interests, and the interests of your loved ones, throughout the legal process. Call us at (856) 251-0800 or fill out our confidential contact form to schedule a consultation. We have an office conveniently located at 750 Cooper Street, Woodbury, NJ 08096.
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