Nurturing the Marriage Relationship in the Ecological Breastfeeding Family
There are a lot of authors that suggest
overnight and weekend getaways as necessary for a healthy marriage. If you practice ecological breastfeeding,
however, these trips are not always advisable.
When your youngest child weans, maybe a trip like this will be a
possibility. What to do in the
meantime? My husband and I have a weekly
two hour date night. If I have a
nursling or a clingy toddler, she comes with us. Otherwise the youngest stays home with her
brothers (our oldest two sons are teenagers).
Before our oldest was a teenager, we had a regular babysitter for date
night. If you do not have a teenage son
or daughter or you cannot afford a sitter, consider trading babysitting with a
friend. Another idea is to have a date
night at home by putting on a family DVD for the kids and sharing a special
meal with your sweetie at the kitchen table.
In our family we have a bedtime for the
oldest kids. This way my husband and I
have quiet time together in the evening.
Our nursing baby is welcome to join us.
Once our second child came along, we realized that even if the baby
stays up with us, it is still quieter and more conducive to couple time than
when all the kids are up. I know some moms
who do not have bedtimes. They most
likely set aside other times for special couple time, possibly after dad gets
home from work. As your children get
older, you can let them know that for the first 20 minutes after dad gets home,
they need to play or read quietly so that the two of you have some time to
reconnect after a busy day.
There are other little ways you and your
husband can stay connected while raising children. You can talk on the phone during the day,
exchange text messages or emails and have lunch together if your husband is
able to come home from work. You may
consider asking friends what works for them or subscribing to inspirational
blogs for more ideas.
(Excerpt from Getting Started with Breastfeeding: For Catholic Mothers)
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