From years of just the two of you, both you and your partner surely made lots of adjustments when children came into the picture. As you navigate parenthood together, there have been times when your personal relationship took a back seat and there were less and less date nights. It’s understandable: he has to work hard to provide for the needs of a growing family while you have an endless list of things to accomplish as a working mom.

But even though the kids are keeping you busy, thou shalt not neglect your husband or partner. After all, he’s your teammate in this whole parenting journey.

Nurturing Your Personal Relationship as a Couple

Stay in love and keep the spark alive with these reminders:

1. Take care of each other.

Additional responsibilities mean difficulty in setting priorities. Sometimes, the marriage comes in last, and couples forget to check in with each other. Simple acts of service like cooking his or her fave meal or a quick massage, and saying “Thank you” and other words of affirmation can make the darkest of days seem brighter.

2. Spice things up with something new.

Your relationship may start feeling routinary and the excitement may not be there anymore. Why don’t you try something new together? Learn a skill or introduce a new ritual that will make both of you discover something about each other from time to time. Invite your husband to a yoga class by Urban Ashram or attend a spiritual parenting workshop to learn new techniques in mindful parenting together.

3. Do household chores together.

Planning to do some weekend cleaning? Split the household chores and help one another as much as you can. When looking after your kids, designate who’s responsible and let the other get some rest, and vice versa. Like what they say, teamwork makes the dream work. Also, dividing the work at home and having clear assignments is one way to prevent feeling resentful towards a partner.

4. Inject an element of surprise.

The key is to keep the excitement alive. Do random acts of love or surprise each other from time to time. Gestures don’t have to be grand, as it’s always the thought that counts. Leave some notes on the fridge to greet him good morning, or set up a cozy Netflix nook on the balcony so you could enjoy a good flick midweek.

5. Always communicate no matter how busy you both are.

When we are drowned with work and overwhelmed by all of life’s must-dos, we are sometimes too tired to talk to our partner about how our day was, our fears and worries, our plans. Always keep an open line of communication so that you can discuss issues—or just about anything—about family life and your individual lives.

6. Set up date nights.

Rekindle your love for one another by setting up romantic date nights for the two of you. You can cook together, savor roast beef with wine, or enjoy a platter of sushi and tempura. Talk about the things you never had the chance to talk about before and make date nights something to look forward to every month (or every week).

7. Give each other time out.

Yes, you’re in this together. But it also pays to have some time for yourself. Encourage each other to take a break or do something as a hobby. Take turns, get some rest, and come back stronger together. Use that time to take care of yourself so that you can continue taking care of your kids and each other.

Learn more about Parenting here.

This story originally appeared on Edamama and is re-used with permission:
https://www.edamama.ph/discover/nurture/keep-relationship-strong-while-raising-kids