Keeping Relationships Strong

[aydee]

With the stresses and exhaustion of parenting little ones, it's easy for relationships to drift apart. What do you do to keep your marriage/relationship going strong?

[CestLaVie]

Oooh good topic. This is an area I struggle in the most.

[CestLaVie]

One thing we've been trying the past few weeks is to be in physical contact more. It is so so easy to go days without ever even coming into contact even though we live together and sleep in the same bed. We've been sitting together on the couch in the evening (like actually right beside each other lol) and surprisingly it has made a pretty big difference with how connected I feel/relaxed.

[mommabakes]

I struggle with this. I get really touched out by the end of the day, and just tired. In an effort to make more effort in our relationship, I'm giving my DH a jar full of at home dates ideas for Christmas, and we'll pull one date out a week for after the kids are in bed.

[shellyr]

I'm lurking this because I suck at this.
I'm consumed with the new house/toddler/job.
We were married 11 years before kids. Our relationship has changed dramatically since.

[aydee]

I struggle with that touched out feeling all the time mommabakes. I need to find a way to get over it because I know that closeness and physical affection are so important in a marriage. I had hoped it would get better after I stopped nursing, but nope.

I think I'm going to make an effort to hug DH more. I think it would help both of us.

[layloo]

We are in a pretty good place right now (ebbs and flows, you know) but I attribute it to just having adult conversations after N is in bed. We are also letting the ILs keep him more. More sex. And my meds are making me feel a lot better

[redandblue]

aydee there is research that shows 12 second hugs make a big impact. So physical touch is important, and hugging is definitely important, but try to challenge yourself to maintain it for 12 seconds.

[jedi]

We hug a lot. But need more dates.

[easternshoregirl]

I'll follow this for ideas...we aren't really doing great in this area these days. 
We aren't really getting much time alone without E since he goes to bed so late. 

[easternshoregirl]

We did start watching Stranger Things together, on the nights that E doesn't nap and goes to bed by 8:30 or so. I know it is just watching a show and not really "connecting" but it is something we are doing together!

[mrspiatt]

H and I have been working really hard on this for the past few months and I feel like we’ve been doing really well. We are listening to each other more or better, I’m not sure which best describes it, maybe both? We have conversations all the time, but are often too distracted with other things to take in what the other person is saying. This last week I’ve notice him repeating the things I say to himself, it’s definitely getting harder with a newborn.
We also like the idea of having a date night at least once a month, but failed completely when we’ve tried. Either no money, no sitter or just too damn exhausted.
We do watch TV together after A goes to sleep and we enjoy that.