Changing relationships

by Sarah Juliusson

Children change our relationships – with ourselves, partners, friends, family, and even with our work – change is a given.

For women with partners, the changes can be both heart-warming and challenging. We are learning to see one another as partners and parents, and too often we let the partner part slip amidst the routine and hard but beautiful work of parenthood. It takes intentional effort to nurture your relationship as well as your children.

However, there are some couples who seem to thrive as parents. Life as a family can also make your love for one another grow all the stronger. Any happy couple will tell you that it doesn’t come easy. Maintaining a healthy relationship takes hard work, but it’s good work. Here are a few simple ideas to help nurture your relationship:

Date night

Yes, we know, it’s obvious, but why don’t we do it? Here are a few ideas on how to make your desire for a date night become reality. Read more . . .

Nurture yourselves

When you feel you have the time you need for YOU, it is so much easier to give to your partner. Schedule childcare and go off on solo dates for an afternoon, then come back together for a dinner date and you’ll enjoy each other so much more.

Snuggles

Make sure every day includes at least one hug, kiss or snuggle. Make space for small, random touch – a hand on a shoulder, holding hands on a walk, a quick neck massage just because . . .

Take a mini-retreat together

Four hours of quiet time together walking in the woods is a true gift. The whole day is even better. A weekend? Be sure to thank the grandparents!

Sarah Juliusson is the mother of two young boys, and co-founder of Dancing Star Birth and Mama Renew, offering Birthing From Within prenatal classes, and groups for new and seasoned mothers. To learn more visit www.DancingStarBirth.ca and www.MamaRenew.ca. Read their blog at www.mamarenew.ca/blog.

Birth Fest winner

A big thank you to everyone who stopped by to see us at Birth Fest this past weekend! Rebecca Berry is the lucky winner of the fantastic prize basket. Thanks again to our wonderful sponsors, who donated items for this fab prize:

Green Planet Parties
Music with Marnie
Raspberry Kids
Organically Hatched
Lavish and Lime
Sweet Pea Baby Food
BabyLegs Canada and Baby’s Best Designs

B.C. archives | Calgary archives

Date hike

Spice up your room with great art at a great price

We love the super sweet leather Mally Bibs that never stain. Even more, we’re big fans of their art cards. Here’s your chance to spruce up your child’s nursery at a reasonable cost. Now until the end of March, if you spend $98 at mallybibs.com, you get three FREE leather appliqué art cards! The Mally Bibs art cards are so adorable and when framed, they make for a wonderful accent to any nursery.

Yaletown Baby and Toddler Fair

Next up for us is the Yaletown Baby and Toddler Fair, happening Saturday, April 4 at the Roundhouse Community Centre in Vancouver. Stay tuned to Babyvibe for more exciting details!

New Nest Egg prize

Check out this week’s super cool Babyvibe Nest Egg Prize Blog where four lucky readers can win gift certificates from Baby Planet Boutique