Let’s face it, life is crazy! And it takes a toll on our relationships.
Trying to keep up with the hustle and bustle of our everyday lives is overwhelming. Work, family commitments, school, soccer, dance classes, friends, our health, birthday parties, holidays, babies, and so on. Sometimes we look back on the week and wonder where it went.
One of the challenges you might face is staying connected to your partner or spouse. But putting your intimate partner on the back burner can quickly build resentment or make cracks in the foundation of your relationship.
To prevent this from happening it is important to make your relationship a priority despite all the challenges and stress the days throw at you. Although this may seem like common sense, to keep your relationship and partnership strong it is important to stay connected to each other.
Here are a few ideas to help you stay connected to your intimate relationship[1] [2]:
Have Lunch Together
Lunch doesn’t have to come with a child’s toy. Spice up your marriage by meeting your partner for a private lunch date. Bring food from home and sit in the work conference room or in the park to save money. It doesn’t matter what you eat. It only matters that you’re spending quality time together.
Spend Time Together After the Kids Are in Bed
One last glass of water. Five more minutes in front of the television. We know the tactics children use to delay “lights out.” We used them plenty of times ourselves. It’s tempting to give in to prevent bedtime struggles but you and your spouse need time together just as much as your kids need sleep. Set a bedtime for your children. Stick to it. That way, you can “meet” for a secret rendezvous in the living room.
Take a Weekend Off
For some people, it’s hard to imagine being away from the kids for more than a few hours. Start with a weekend off from the kids to see what works for you. You may actually enjoy the alone time with your spouse even more than you did before you had children. You don’t have to leave the house for a weekend off. Make the kids leave instead. Send them to a friend or family member’s home for their own weekend getaway.
Say thank you
We all desire to feel appreciated, but often times we forget the power of the two simple words, “Thank you.” Look for the opportunities to say “Thank You,” to your spouse.
Show your appreciation for little things like taking out the trash as well as the big things like going to work every day so that you can have a better life. Don’t let gratitude go unspoken. Make sure that your spouse knows that you appreciate all that they do. Say “Thank you,” and say it often. Your spouse will feel more connected to you when they feel appreciated by you.
Talk Every Day
Daddy can tell the kids how his day was around the dinner table. He can also save some of the details so you can talk more when the two of you are alone. Read the newspaper. Laugh together. Watch funny videos. Say a lyric and see if your husband can guess the song title. Make a point every day to interact with each other, even if it’s to talk about your marriage. Talk, listen and make time for each other. Even with you both being dedicated to your children, your family’s happiness depends on the health of your marriage.
It is easy to get disconnected from our spouses and intimate partners. So many things to do and so many places to be. Make your marriage and relationship a priority and stay connected. By making a conscious effort to stay connected, you are giving your relationship all of the nutrients it needs to be healthy and thrive.
[1]Tammy Greene Sep 23, 2014
[2] https://www.liveabout.com/balance-your-marriage-life-raising-kids-3129599
