1. Many welcome the parenting experience gladly, unaware of the difficulties that lie ahead.
Indeed, having your first baby is a blessing. However, it's quite an overwhelming experience, and
even the happiest couples might find it hard to maintain a happy marriage after their life has
been suddenly turned upside down. Someone new has come to your little family, demanding
120% of your time and energy. Suddenly, you and your spouse have no time for yourselves, no
time for sex, and never get enough sleep. Fatigued and frustrated, young parents often have a
go at each other just when they need each other's help the most. Here's a few basic tips that will
help you prevent a marriage crisis:
Share responsibilities for your baby. Nobody is born a parent, and balancing between parenting
responsibilities and the rest of your life isn't easy, especially for beginners. Support each other.
That's the whole fun in it: what you're doing is creating your first memories with your first child.
You don't want to miss that.
Spend some quality time with your spouse. Take some time off parenting. There's nothing to
feel guilty about - we all need to recharge our batteries from time to time. Ask your parents to
stay with the baby for a while, or hire a babysitter, and go out just the two of you. Oh, and just
one more thing. You don't have to take the baby with you to a restaurant.
It's perfectly OK to choose sleep over sex. Fatigue is never a recipe for good sex, and right now,
it's important for both of you to get some sleep. You'll have time to restore your sex life back to
normal yet.
If you feel like you need some more detailed advice but are reluctant to visit a marriage adviser,
some good books and articles on the subject may be found on the web.