- my iParenting
- quick clicks
- babies today articles
- babies today q&a
- toddlers today articles
- toddlers today q&a
- breastfeed.com articles
- breastfeed.com q&a
- message boards
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
 |
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Marriage Postpartum
Working Through the Rough Spots
By Tamar Weiss
Those who stay home with the baby "may feel anxious and scared about their new roles," Brinn says. "They may feel isolated, especially if they have left jobs either temporarily or permanently and are now more cut-off from friends, adult interaction and work that is deemed 'meaningful.' They may also feel they are doing a lot of 'drudgery,' such as taking care of the home and the needs of an infant and have little 'news' to report at the end of the day unlike the [spouse] who had been out in the work world."
Both mother and father can feel jealous of the other's positions. "When it is the husband who goes out to work, he can feel like his role is exclusively one of financial supporter, making him resentful of the bond between the mother and baby," Brinn says.
In the Ingram family's experience, a good deal of the tension was a result of the "terror" that comes along with raising a first child. "I'm definitely not surprised by the tension a child creates because terror can make a person do and say stupid things," Ingram says. "The target of those stupid words and actions is the closest person to you, your spouse."
Rather than share the harsh words, which may seem unavoidable, "couples who can talk these issues out, be sensitive to each other's needs, share responsibilities and make time to still spend quality time as a couple can resolve these problems," Brinn says.
Want to see more?
Comments
There are no comments for this article yet.Be the first to 
|
Post As:
|
||
| Enter your comment below: | ||
| Title | ||
| Comment Text | ||
| CAPTCHA | ||
| Please note that any comments submitted become the property of Disney Family / iParenting and can be edited and posted at our discrection. | ||
