326. When your partner feels like a roommate: Why couples can feel disconnected after kids and what to do to reconnect with Chelsea Skaggs

Chelsea Skaggs is here to talk about how couples can keep your romantic relationship strong as you move beyond from early stages of survival mode deeper into parenthood.

Together we explore:

• How the demands of parenting shift as your children grow, and what that means for your romantic connection.
• Tips for getting your partner on board if only one of you feels ready to work on deepening your connection.
• Simple and practical strategies for attuning to your partner and "reading" the room for your best chance of success feeling a deepened connection.
• Navigating mismatched energy levels and intentions so bids for connection aren’t thwarted.
• A power tool anyone can implement right away that can be help you to break out of reactive patterns.
• How your own nervous system regulation can be a starting point for closeness, including what polyvagal theory teaches us about this.
• Addressing resentment as a signal of unmet needs—and how to get to the root rather than staying stuck in this toxic loop.
• Why it’s essential to focus on what’s within your control and give yourself permission to care for yourself, instead of blaming your partner for meeting their needs.

If you’re ready to move beyond just getting through the day and reconnect with your partner in a deeper way, this conversation is for you.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MY GUEST:

🔗 https://www.postpartumtogether.com/

🎧 57. Sex after baby: How to reconnect and increase intimacy with your partner with Chelsea Skaggs

ADDITIONAL REFERENCES AND RESOURCES:

👉🏻 Click HERE for my workshop, Be the Calm in Your Child's Storm: How to Keep Your Cool When Your Child Loses Theirs, to get the exact therapeutic interventions I use with my patients that can change the way your brain and body interprets your child’s dysregulation to help you stay cool in the heat of the moment.

CHECK OUT ADDITIONAL PODCAST EPISODES YOU MAY LIKE:

🎧 59. Sex after baby part II: When we want to want it but we're just touched out

🎧 244. Understanding parental dysregulation: How to identify and manage your triggers with Dr. Amber Thornton

🎧 148. Unlocking the power of polyvagal theory: Using the nervous system to wire our children for resilience, with Seth Porges

🎧 115. Q&A: Can you get stuck in a state of fight-or-flight?