Relationships ending is a natural part of life, but you shouldn’t just automatically give up when things get tough. All couples experience their ups and downs while having children gives you an extra incentive to make things work.
Of course, it’s always better for all parties for children to be split across two happy homes than one unhappy one. Still, if it is possible to get your relationship back on track, you owe it to yourselves to try. Here are five simple strategies for couples to focus on in a bid to resurrect the relationship.
1- Attend Therapy
The thought of attending couples therapy may be daunting. Meanwhile, some may feel that it is an admission that the relationship is broken. It does admittedly confirm that something isn’t right but, more importantly, it shows that you want to address it. Moreover, it is a sign of unity both in terms of acknowledging the issues and wishing to work on things together.
Couples therapy encourages clear communication, underpinned by transparency. Moreover, it scratches beneath the service to understand the root causes of issues in the relationship. In many cases, this will include influences from past experiences outside of your love. Either way, the ability to address them with tactics to strengthen your bond may put your love back on track.
2- Quit Damaging Habits
Oftentimes, relationships end due to the damaging impact of a habit rather than a major incident. If one of your habits is making it difficult for your partner to live under the same roof as you, it may be necessary to overcome the issue. Given that the matter in question could be sabotaging your personal life, the breakthrough is vital. Even if it doesn’t save your love.
In today’s climate, learning to manage your screen time is perhaps the most rewarding step. Many couples do not realize the impact that a phone addiction brings until it’s too late. However, everything from micro-cheating to simply not being emotionally available in the moment will have a big impact. Regaining control of this situation could restore control of the relationship.
3- Rediscover Individualism
Both parenting and being in a loving relationship are wonderful things that will define you. Nonetheless, they should not become the only things in your life. If you’re not careful, the harsh reality is that fatherhood could strangle the individualism out of you. You may think that you’re making sacrifices for loved ones. But you can’t give the best version of yourself when unhappy,
So, rather than being a selfish endeavor, creating some time for personal hobbies is key to gaining balance. Whether it’s rediscovering your love of fitness or enjoying a couple of guys nights out each month doesn’t matter. When you are happier in yourself, it is far easier to be happier in your relationship. Of course, this sentiment should extend to your partner.
4- Rediscover Yourselves As A Couple
As well as rediscovering yourselves as individuals, you must learn to be a couple once again. While mom and dad are your biggest roles, you should not ignore the importance of being partners. Therefore, creating time for home date nights or adventures spent together in a kid-free environment can be a key. It is your chance to fall in love altogether.
It’s unlikely that you’ll want to take a vacation without the kids, but an overnight stay at a spa while the kids stay with their grandparents is ideal. Aside from renewing your love of each other, it’s an opportunity to relax. In today’s stressful world, the chance to recharge the batteries can be telling. You’ll be less irritable with each other on a daily basis, which can work wonders.
5- Alter Your Schedules
Finally, another issue that frequently affects parents is a lack of time spent together due to conflicting schedules. If you have become two passing ships in the night, it becomes very easy for your relationship to fall apart at the seams. It will also leave you vulnerable to issues like seeking validation outside of the relationship. This can only spell disaster.
It will take a conscious effort, but finding a way to make your schedules better aligned is key. In severe cases, this may require one of you to seek a different job. Generally, working together with ideas like sharing household chores or working as a pair is enough. It may take a little trial and error, but will be worth it if it gets you back on track as a couple.
