Chatter: 17 Habits of Happy Couples
Moms turn to Facebook groups to ask each other for advice, trading brilliant tips every day. Here’s a hot topic and savvy solutions inspired by conversations that women are having on social media.
Photo by Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash
Question: How do you stay close with your partner when taking care of children requires so much time, attention, and energy?
“Say “thank you” for the little things. Whether it’s filling the soap dispensers or folding the laundry, show your spouse that you see and appreciate the small ways that they help ease your day.”
“Play games! At first, my husband wasn't interested in playing games, but I brought him out of his comfort zone, and soon we were cracking up laughing and having fun!”
“I text my husband throughout the day. I’ll send the simplest things — literally whatever I’m thinking. He's got a scary front row seat to my mind. He doesn't always respond, but says he likes when I text him.”
“We try to stay curious! If we’re interested in something, we research it and share what we’ve found. You can look for interesting documentaries, jaw-dropping feats on YouTube, shocking news stories, and so on, and then you can chat about the topic.”
“I felt lonely when our kids were little because my husband worked so much. I reminded myself that he was working hard for us, and I kept up my end of the deal by maintaining the household. It got easier as the kids got older.”
“We use The Adventure Challenge: Couples Edition book!”
“We like to talk about future plans and goals for ourselves and our family.”
“I bought a box of conversation starters. It really helps, especially when we are too tired to do anything else.”
“Make bucket lists. Ask what would be on his and share something surprising from yours. Or, create a joint bucket list.”
“Remember to think of your partner as a friend.”
“Build a totally new experience together: bungee jumping, cave exploring, winter camping, ax throwing.”
“We use the Paired app! It has games, quizzes, and questions that are designed to deepen your connection.”
“Talking about your favorite things can lead to bigger conversations. My husband revealed his favorite holiday, which led to conversations about time off from work, family dinners, and gift giving.”
“Take on a project together! Refinish your basement, plant a vegetable garden, bury a time capsule, or finish a 1,000 piece puzzle. Just make sure to pick a project that you know will result in a positive experience, not frustration!”
“We do silly, random things, like cooking competitions with our kids as the judges.”
“Look up the “5 Love Languages” and find the love language that fits you and your husband. There’s a free quiz online. I think it’s important because you may be speaking your own love language, and not your partners. “
“We have a special happy hour on Fridays to celebrate the start of the weekend. We look forward to it all week.”