Maintaining a Strong Relationship – Even After Having Kids

Keeping the spark alive in a relationship and remaining strong and close over the years isn’t always easy, especially when children come along. If you’re worried about drifting apart or just want to make your relationship the best it can be, consider these ideas. 

Do things as a family

Spending time with your partner doesn’t have to be one on one or romantic time for it to count.

Doing things together as a family is loads of fun and benefits all of you, it’s a chance for you and your partner to goof around or just relax while you’re on family days out, enjoying movie nights or relaxing in the garden.

Spending time as a family will bring you all closer together, not to mention strengthen the bonds between you and your partner. As busy parents, often time spent together will be while you have kids so just enjoy it and make the most of these precious family moments. 

Small gestures count

When you’re running after children all day, you won’t necessarily have all the time in the world to enjoy together. For this reason, making the most of the time you do get is crucial, and small gestures really do count. It could be watching a movie together when the kids are in bed, massaging your partner’s shoulders after a long day, running them a bubble bath or cooking their favourite meal.

When kids come along your relationship changes, it can be easy to lose that closeness you once had when caring for them has to be prioritised over spending time as a couple. So these sweet, thoughtful actions can be just what your partner needs to know you care about them, are thinking about them and love them even if things are different to when you were first dating.

Any family solicitors will tell you that so many couples find themselves drifting apart just through the lack of these small gestures, so think about your partner and don’t forget the small stuff to keep your relationship strong.

Plan for fun times 

Making plans for time apart can be really beneficial. Even if it’s only once in a while, some quality time for the two of you could be just what’s needed. It could be a date night or a day out, or even a mini break if you can get the childcare. Every now and again, make the effort to spend time together and plan to do nice things like you once did. Even planning and looking forward to something together can be exciting, even if you don’t get to do it all that often.