Hi, you're listening to Small Things Often from the Gottman Institute,

where we talk you through research-based tips to help improve your relationships in five minutes or less.

Today's tip is about maintaining a passionate relationship while being a parent.

Taking care of someone you love is definitely a game changer, but it doesn't have to be a

romance killer. While it's completely normal if long walks on the beach and lazy afternoons of

lovemaking aren't happening as much, passion and parenting can coexist. Let's just say you had a

baby. There's natural stressors like hormonal shifts,

recovering from childbirth, or maybe you're more exhausted than you've ever been in your whole

entire life. You're experiencing the highest of highs, the lowest of lows, and literally

everything in between. It's not shocking if you're less interested in sex and romance,

and instead you're on edge and only have the energy to talk logistics with your partner,

like, please take the baby so I can shower.

But it's still important to prioritize intimacy,

even if you're redefining what that looks like right now.

You can establish rituals that can keep you and your partner emotionally connected.

Keeping your emotional connection strong not only helps to buffer the stressors of parenting.

It can keep that passion alive.

But you have to be intentional about it.

Maybe you could start a morning routine of feeding, playing, and taking care of the baby together.

Work as a team and connect as new parents.

Or use that time to check in with each other.

Ask how your partner is feeling through this big life change.

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