When husband and wife become Mommy and Daddy, things around
the home change so rapidly that many couples don't even know what hit them.
I'm Bill McCartney... It's 4TH and Goal!
In an issue of Parent Life magazine, Writer Carol Kuykendall writes
that marriages change as soon as children come on the scene. The
arrival of a baby can immediately alter several elements of a relationship.
First, the balance in a couple's life changes. Many couples
are surprised by the way their priorities, lifestyles, and emotional reactions
become disoriented compared to the way they were before. Husbands
and wives sometimes feel that the new baby has stolen some of their spouse's
affection.
Also, the commitment between husband and wife comes into focus when
kids enter the picture. Ideally, couples begin to understand that
they are interdependent.
Intimacy also changes when children enter the picture. And,
I'm not just talking about sex - but closeness on all levels. There
just isn't as much time to be together. So, new moms and dads must
be more intentional than ever before about maintaining closeness, by communicating
love through acts of kindness.
Steps can be taken to protect intimacy when kids enter the picture.
One thing a couple can do to anticipate additions to the family is to form
a mission statement. A family mission statement should define your
family's values, your priorities, and the ways you spend your money.
Kids force parents to think hard about these issues. And, a well-prepared
couple can better endure those challenges because a common vision can bring
clarity and unity. A mission statement will protect them from many
future misunderstandings and conflicts.
We've got to do what we can to ensure our families stay strong because
the success of our kids depends so much on the success of our relationships
as husband and wife. Kids bring incredible joy, but irreversible
change. Yes, it's described as the toughest job description that
we'll ever have. But, done right, parenting can solidify the bond
between husband and wife.
I'm Coach Bill McCartney.
Source: Kuykendall, Carol. "When husband and wife become Mom and
Dad." Parent Life September, 2000.
Copyright (c) 2000 Promise Keepers.
4th and Goal - Coaching for Life's Tough Calls, with Bill McCartney,
is a radio ministry of Promise Keepers.
Heard on more than 470 outlets nationwide, 4th and Goal - Coaching for
Life's Tough Calls, with Bill McCartney, is a 3-minute daily radio commentary
providing men with a hope-filled approach to issues that men deal with
every day. The program addresses vital topics such as parenting, the fatherless,
teenage alienation, and marriage relationships, as well as reporting on
breaking news and research related to men's daily interests. 4th
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