Being on your phone instead of listening when your partner is speaking as well using phones and cameras to monitor your partner’s activities are examples of how technology enters relationships. Our phones and other devices can interfere with intimacy and also help us avoid difficult conversations.
Sometimes following separation there is a hurdle in beginning to use the term, “The Ex,” when referring to your former husband or wife. There may be a journey towards speaking these words aloud, with support coming from colleagues, friends, family - even strangers - who have walked the path of separation before you.
Sometimes new or expectant mothers see media coverage of tragic loss in the postpartum and become concerned about “getting” postpartum depression. It’s important to talk to your providers and learn about local community resources for postpartum women.
Valentine’s Day can cause you to reassess where you are in terms of intimate relationships. Anxiety can creep in as friends find partners. Staying true to yourself, letting go of relationships that truly aren’t working, and remaining open to all the possibilities around you can lead you to your own special person.
Separation can make it feel like life as you knew it has come to an abrupt halt. It may seem overwhelming to make necessary decisions, such as where to live or work. Making decisions is empowering and can set you on a path forward. Viewing decisions as subject to future revision as circumstances change may help.
For couples, having a shared, overarching parenting style greatly reduces opportunities for conflict. Children, in turn, benefit from the safety and security that a “united front” provides. Taking the time to discuss parenting issues as they arise can be a the pathway to preserving the relationship despite disagreements about parenting.
