When you have children, they have a tendency to take over in your life. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Infants and small children need you around so they can survive, learn, and thrive. You are all they have.
But this means that some things can fall by the wayside. You might struggle to stay active and keep fit. Or your relationship with your spouse or significant other might suffer. It’s easy to get distracted and fail to make time for each other.
So, here are a few ideas to make sure your parenting partner understands just how much you appreciate them.
Photo by LaShawn Dobbs on Unsplash
Why It Matters
While your children do take priority a lot of the time, this doesn’t mean other relationships are less important. They’re just different. If you’re married, your spouse should also take priority.
After all, you both work together to raise your children and support each other in your lives. A marriage shouldn’t be about keeping score or trying to win, it should be about making sure you both win. You’re a team.
Not only this, but a good marriage is one aspect of good parenting. You are the first ever example of a relationship that your children will see. So make it a good one.
Date Nights
One of the best ways to keep your relationship alive is to make sure you both still go on dates. When you’re dating before marriage or a committed relationship, you’re trying to get to know each other and, let’s be honest, impress each other. There’s a wonderful shift when dating stops being scary and starts being a lot more fun. You become friends.
That shouldn’t really stop. Even after years or decades, a date should be fun and exciting for you both. Make a bit of effort, and you’ll both enjoy them a lot more.
This gives you time to work on your relationship and keep it strong. Your identities don’t have to be consumed by your children all the time. Babysitters exist for a reason.
Small Gestures
It’s also important to make sure you show your appreciation day in, day out. Yes, there will be times when you’re in a bad mood or tired and you can’t be at your best. But this doesn’t mean there’s no room for pleases and thank-yous.
Smile at each other. Compliment each other. Do little things to make each other’s lives easier. Make it a habit to show your love.
Big Treats and Adventures
Finally, let’s talk about the big gestures. Whether you want to save them for special occasions like anniversaries, or you prefer the element of surprise of a seemingly random gift, this is your chance to be imaginative.
For example, if your spouse is a car and travel buff, why not rent a Ferrari in Italy? Treat them, and treat yourself as well. Other gifts and experiences like this all build memories that will stick with you both forever. Who doesn’t like to see the one they love happy?
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