Guest Blog Post By Emily Graham
According to Today’s Parent, “Almost 70 percent of couples experience a decrease in marital satisfaction during the first year of baby’s life.” Of course, you don’t want to think that your bundle of joy could have anything besides a positive effect on your relationship. However, all kinds of stress can happen post-baby, and some of it can impact both of you as a couple. Despite the sleep deprivation you two are probably facing on a regular basis, there are some simple ways to strengthen you and your significant other’s union after the baby has arrived.
Go Out Solo
Before you can begin restoring the bond between you and your significant other, you should prepare yourself for spending time away from your baby. This is an important and healthy part of being a parent. It can be difficult, of course, so start small. You don’t have to leave your child for a weekend at first; just go out for lunch, take a long walk or visit a museum.
Slowly build up your time away, and feel free to rely on close friends and family to look after the baby while you’re out. Practice and preparation will lead to a smooth transition; this way, you won’t feel guilt or stress for the few hours you’re out with your S.O. for some much-needed one-on-one time.
Plan a Date
As exhausting and challenging as it may sound, you need to set aside time for just the two of you. It may seem like you don’t have enough free time for it, but making an effort to be together is crucial to keeping your relationship strong.
According to Kindred Bravely, you can choose to have a date night out or right at home. If you’re heading out, choose a restaurant you both love, or turn your date into an adventure by going kayaking or hiking. If you’d rather stay in, make dinner together, then cuddle on the couch and watch a movie. The point is to find a way to spend some time together, even if it’s just for an hour.
Of course, you’ll need to find someone to take care of your baby while you’re out on your date. If you don’t live near family, you’ll want to start searching for a babysitter. Make sure you find someone with whom you feel absolutely comfortable leaving your baby.
Thankfully, you can make the process simpler by running a background check on the babysitter before you hire. You can perform the check yourself, or some local and major online babysitting services can do it for you. This way, you can rest easy while you’re out, knowing your babysitter is who they say they are.</p
Take Some Time Off
Plan some time off for the both of you. It might seem counteractive to stay close by when spending time alone, but it works. This can mean letting your S.O. take a nap. Remembering who you are is just as important as remembering who you are together as a couple. “These acts of service show your partner that you consider his time and needs important,” according to WorkingMother.com.
If you’re worried about keeping track of everything, get out your calendar and take a few seconds to fill it out. This will help you remember when your next date night or scheduled nap will be.
Remember the Little Things
Driving to the baby’s checkup together? Reach over and hold your partner’s hand. Little gestures like these matter and remind you why it’s all worthwhile and why you chose your mate. There are plenty of easy and efficient things you can do to reconnect, including flirting, showering together, touching, and turning off the phone before bed. Also, this extra effort you’re putting into showing affection will pay off in the bedroom, too.
Notice that all of these suggestions boil down to you focusing on your partner and how you’re communicating, if only for a few minutes. Yes, a baby changes the dynamic of your relationship, but you can avoid some of the stress by remembering the person you chose to have a baby with.
For more on this topic, feel free to read “The Thing No One Told Me Before I had Kids” on the band of Mama’s Blog!
Image courtesy of Pixabay.
Emily Graham is a writer and editor on https://mightymoms.net/ blog
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