Becoming a parent, whether for the first time or again, can be stressful for a relationship. The late nights, the financial issues, and the lack of you-time means tensions can arise. During these times, both you and your partner need to show appreciation for one another. You are in this together. Neither should be doing the majority of the work or have most of the responsibility. Allowing this to happen will only cause any issues to get worse, and that is the last thing you want as parents. With this in mind, here are some tips for showing appreciation for each other.
Share Responsibilities
It should not be just one of you who feeds the baby, changes the baby, or gets up in the middle of the night to soothe them back to sleep. You must figure out a plan or schedule to ensure that you share the load. This can be tricky to figure out, though. What constitutes doing more? And what about other responsibilities, such as work, during different parts of the day? How do you figure that out as a couple? As much as you want to be there for one another, you’ve also got to be sensible about what you can do. Share responsibilities, absolutely but also understand when one of you needs a break. For Chris and me right now, he is able to hold Poppy during the day a lot since I take the night shifts. Since we have George, Chris is in charge of helping him out more right now since I am distracted with nursing and taking care of the baby. We also decided that he would sleep in the guest room right now so that when I am up in the night at least one of us is getting good sleep and able to function adequately for George. It also frees me up to turn on a lamp in the night, change a diaper if I need and not worry about making too much noise! Find what works for you as parents!!
Make Sure to Communicate
Communication is something that is so easily lost along the way in relationships. Couples stop talking to one another, which means that negative feelings fester and boil over into something much worse. This is an issue I always have to keep in the front of my mind. I tend to put up walls when I’m tired and do not communicate my expectations. I have come to realize that Chris cannot read my mind so if I do not communicate what I need help with I cannot expect him to do it.
If you are feeling like you have problems or are unsure about what to do with your child, communicating the next step and working through issues together by talking (not yelling) will show you still care for one another and respect each other’s feelings. Showing this respect makes it much easier to reach a suitable conclusion that will benefit everybody.
Gifts Never Hurt
While sharing and communication are essential, gifts are something that will always help. Jewelry, such as necklaces for a girlfriend or wife to commemorate the birth of your child or a pair of cufflinks to wear on their wedding day, will mean a lot. These gifts give you both something to demonstrate visual appreciation. You can use it to serve as a constant reminder that you are in this together and care and appreciate one another.
Appreciating Each Other
Working together to navigate your life should be something that all couples strive to do. As you are both in this together, offering support for one another will ensure that you approach all the hurdles and road bumps much more comfortably. As parents, you need to look out for each other as much as you look out for your child, and the best way to do that is to show appreciation for each other and demonstrate your love.
