You were overjoyed when you became parents to your precious baby — and for good reason. But now that you’re both back at work juggling parenthood, your career and home life, the joy has dimmed and you’re feeling that there’s something not quite right in your relationship…the sexual intimacy. Relationship therapist, Clinton Power shares his tips for getting your sexual intimacy back on track.
Too often I hear the professional parents I work with complaining they are too busy, too tired, or too stressed to have sex. But, really, there’s more to it than first appears.
Reduced sexual intimacy is a common area of conflict for many new parents, particularly working parents, so you’re not alone. It’s possible you and your partner are expecting different things when it comes to sex, and this can cause resentment, confusion, and feelings of insecurity for both of you.
The first step to reconnecting
Firstly, it’s important to understand and acknowledge the new dynamic. With so much focus on your child, plus the realities of juggling work and home life, you and your partner may lose sight of each other while your relationship takes the back seat. Rather than assign blame or feel resentful of one another, discuss the issues and ensure you make time for your relationship.
If you and your partner can maintain a healthy and loving relationship, you create a safe, warm and nurturing environment for your growing child. Best of all, you’re modeling an excellent example of a healthy relationship for your child.
Here are some tips for getting your sexual intimacy back on track.
Ask for help
Like the old saying, ‘It takes a village to raise a child’. But the adults involved also need a village to help keep their relationship on track. Have friends and family lined up to give you adult alone time on a regular basis. And if you have to invest in a babysitter, it’s money well spent.
Have a dedicated flirting channel
Create a private messaging channel to communicate with each other through the workday or any time you’re apart (a private email address used only for the two of you, or a WhatsApp channel can work well). This channel is only to be used for flirting and writing love notes to each other to nourish your erotic life. Don’t use this channel for discussing the housekeeping matters of life — you can do that elsewhere.
Stay out late once every six to eight weeks
Remember what it’s like to have fun, be silly, feel naughty, and be rebellious? This is precisely the kind of novelty and excitement you want to redirect as erotic energy into your partnership.
Prioritize alone time for each partner
While you need alone time together, you also need individual alone time. Work as a team to have some alone time while your partner covers you and holds down the fort. Enroll in that class you’ve wanted to do, catch up with friends, or just have a spa treatment.
Break your routine and plan ‘couple time’ together
When it comes to planning, have one partner cover all the logistics of the couple time (booking the activity/restaurant/accommodation/movie) and have the other partner cover all the kids’ logistics. Work as a team to divide and conquer, and then focus on having a great time together.
Date night
We’ve all heard of date night, but you need to have some rules while you’re on date night. No talking about kids or the fact you’re lacking sexual intimacy (somehow this never works in helping you to have more sex). Dinner and a movie are fine, but also be creative. Include mystery, anticipation, and novelty where possible on your date nights, because these pump life into your erotic connection.
Schedule sex
It might sound unsexy, but once you get over the fact you’ve scheduled sexy time, the feelings of pleasure and enjoyment are no less than when you spontaneously have sex (which never happens with new parents!).
If you’re struggling with reconnecting after a baby, also consider working with a couple’s therapist. A good couple’s therapist will help you discover your strengths as a couple and help you build a more resilient relationship than you ever had before.
Written by Clinton Power. Clinton is a relationship therapist in private practice in Sydney, Australia. In 2003 he founded Clinton Power + Associates to help singles and couples move out of relationship pain. Clinton regularly comments in the media on relationship issues and has appeared on Channel 7, The Sydney Morning Herald, and ABC Radio. Clinton’s book, 31 Days to Build a Better Relationship, is available here.
