As a parent you spend most of your time taking care of your children. But do you really do a great job of taking care of yourself, your partner or your relationship as a couple? If you have settled into a routine of sacrificing your time and energy to looking after your family and your career, you may be neglecting your own well-being and your relationship with your partner.
The whole family benefits when parents take care of themselves and one another. After all, a happy and healthy parent will have more patience and energy to give. If you’ve been focusing all of your time and energy on your family, try some of the following suggestions for activities for you and/or your partner:
Tips On How to Make Time For Yourself And Your Partner
- Curl up on the couch and read a book
- Soak in the tub
- Ride your bike
- Take a walk
- Play a musical instrument
- Have coffee with a friend
- Pursue a hobby
- Sign up for a course
- Go out for dinner
- Go away for a weekend
These ideas may seem simple, but they may be things you haven’t taken time to do for quite some time. Some take an hour, others require a longer commitment. Take time for yourself, one step at a time. The important thing is to refresh your body, renew your mind and take time for yourself and your partner.
Take Time For Romance
Children learn by example. By maintaining romance and affection in your relationship, you are giving your child the gift of a loving home and showing your children the importance of a caring relationship. Try to spend at least a few uninterrupted minutes together each day. Don’t wait until all of the children are in bed and all of the chores are done – since you’ll be too tired to really communicate.
Schedule a “date” each week and spend the time just enjoying each other’s company. It doesn’t matter what you do and it doesn’t have to cost a lot – go for a walk, ride a bike, take a course together or go for a coffee. Try to forget all about the household matters and just share. Spending time together builds a couple’s emotional collateral so that when times are tough or challenging, you can weather the difficulties together because of the trust and faith you have established.
Take Time For Friendships Too
Don’t neglect your friends because you are spending all of your time with your children, your household or your career. Friends are also important to our well-being. Friendships can also help refresh and renew our spirits and help us laugh. They can also provide a perspective and a kind of understanding that our partner and children cannot. So take time to share with friends.
Leaving Your Child
If you haven’t left your child(ren) with a babysitter too often, he/she/they might make a fuss. However, it is important that you help the child understand that you must go, but that you will be back soon. If your children are particularly hesitant to be left with a babysitter, start with a short outing (such as a walk or a coffee close by) and build towards leaving them for an entire evening.
Remember, being a parent takes a lot of energy and no one has an endless supply. You need to take care of yourself and of each other to ensure you have the strength, stamina and healthy outlook to rise to the very demanding role of parent. This means you need to be sure to nurture your own and your relationship’s health.
For more information or to arrange an appointment
for confidential counselling, contact FGIworld,
your EAP/EFAP provider, (24 hours-a-day/7days-a-week) at:
1-800-268-5211 (English) 1-800-363-3872 (en français)
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