| Children, bless them, change our lives in many many | | | | planned there will still be a strain on the relationship. Be |
| ways - forever! | | | | ready for that, talk about it beforehand, make a plan, |
| Most of my career has involved working with children | | | | set aside time to nurture your relationship as well as |
| in some shape or form, school children, teenagers, | | | | your baby. |
| children with behaviour problems, children with severe | | | | Two or three generations ago extended families lived |
| and complex intellectual problems, teenage mothers | | | | in the same locality, now they can be scattered around |
| and pre-school educational provision. | | | | the world. The benefit of having your family nearby is |
| These days I hear from my employees about the trials | | | | that you can share the baby care, you can arrange a |
| and delights of family life. | | | | few hours off, while Granny or Auntie minds the baby. |
| Will having a baby change your relationship? You bet | | | | That's not so easy if you don't have family around. Try |
| your life it will! | | | | to get together with two or three other couples and |
| Every relationship will feel the strain at some stage, | | | | take turns at giving each other a night off, maybe |
| whether it's through lack of sleep, in the early days or | | | | once a month. It will make a huge difference, you'll |
| some other issue that develops later on. Healthy | | | | have some time out to look forward to. |
| strong relationships survive and grow stronger, couples | | | | Most importantly, talk to each other about how you |
| that know each other's strengths and weaknesses | | | | are going to manage, who is doing night time feeds |
| well can support each other through the tough times - | | | | and when they get a night off. Who will go to the |
| and there will be some. | | | | supermarket, is Mum going back to work and if so, |
| Sadly, many relationships don't stand the strain of | | | | when? |
| parenting and that's a loss for all concerned. | | | | Have you agreed on care for your baby if Mum goes |
| I've seen many loving couples torn apart by the strain | | | | back to work? |
| of caring for a severely disabled child or children. | | | | Having a baby will put a strain on your relationship, but |
| Children with disabilities require so much energy that | | | | the rewards will far outweigh the stresses. |
| there may not be enough left in the pot to nurture a | | | | Keep an eye on this blog for useful ideas and tips |
| relationship as well. | | | | about parenting and relationships. |
| Some couples have only stayed together because a | | | | Leave a comment. Tell me your best parenting tip - I'll |
| baby was on the way - more about that another time. | | | | compile them into a free e-book so that others can |
| Some couples have a baby to try to save their | | | | benefit. |
| relationship - sorry, that won't work. | | | | Most of all, have fun! |
| So, even where a couple is well suited and the baby is | | | | |