Wills & Wellness is excited to have Christie Sears, Child, Couple and Family Therapist, guest blog for us this month. Christie will be joining Wills & Wellness in presenting to families at Baby & Co in Wheatridge this fall about how to create peace of mind through estate planning. Thanks for the advice Christie!

Balance is key to a happier, healthier life and relationship with your partner. Having a baby usually throws most people off-balance and can disrupt any “normalcy” you may have created pre-baby. Getting used to this “new normal” can be a struggle for some parents. This is why I believe in finding a plan that works for you, your partner, and your baby so everyone can function at their best.

“You need time for yourself to recharge, but you also need time with your partner.”

Here are some ideas to help you strategize a more effective parenting plan:

1) Set a schedule. This includes eating, playing, and napping. Try to keep things around the same time every day as much as you can to ensure more consistency for your baby and sanity for yourself.

2) Take advantage of nap times. If you have a baby that can sleep for long stretches, take advantage of this time. Take that time that your baby doesn’t need you to do something for yourself, your relationship, your home… whatever you need.

3) Share parenting responsibilities. When only one partner does it, it can feel unbalanced and that person may start to become resentful. Try to even it out in a way that feels fair for both of you.

4) Practice self-care. If you aren’t taking care of yourself and your needs, you won’t be able to take care of your baby or your relationship with you partner as effectively. Put on your own oxygen mask before anyone else’s!

5) Get a babysitter. You need time for yourself to recharge, but you also need time with your partner. Go out on a real date. Hold on to your friendship that brought you together in the first place. If you’re going to parent together, it will be much easier if you actually still like each other and want to be around each other.

Parenting is hard, but it’s not impossible. You just need a plan!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christie Sears Thompson, MA
Child, Couples, and Family Therapist
Trade Winds Therapy, LLC
www.tradewindstherapy.com
720-381-2755