Parenting is hard. The sleep deprivation, the steep learning curve, feeling like you have no idea what you’re doing most of the time. Thankfully, there’s one simple mindset shift we can all make which will allow us to find more joy in parenting. Whether your child is 1 week old, or 42 years old, it’s time to shine a light on our expectations, cause we’ve all got ‘em and they just ain’t serving us.

Most couples in long-term relationships report feeling emotionally disconnected from their partner a lot of the time, and it's even worse for parents. Resentments and misunderstandings fill in for genuine communication, leading to mistrust and arguments. Having a scheduled communication practice with each other, even for 5 minutes a day, can bring that bond back together.