Are you and your spouse so sleep deprived that you get frustrated, angry, and even argue with each other?
Before kids, your relationship was strong, steady, and full of romance. Now, you’re both tired, moody, and can’t seem to agree on anything.
Not getting enough sleep makes it impossible to react rationally to frustrating situations.
People who are sleep deprived have:
- Increased likelihood to blame others for problems
- Decreased willingness to resolve a conflict by accepting blame
- Increased aggression
Marriage and parenting are tough enough, and when you add fatigue on top of that, it can put a lot of stress on your relationship.
As parents, you and your spouse have a lot of important decisions to make and agree upon:
- What do we do when the baby starts to cry?
- What time should we put the baby to bed?
- How do we keep our toddler from coming to our room every night?
Even once you agree on a possible solution, things don’t always go as planned. So now you’re both frustrated that things aren’t going smoothly, and to top it all off, your sleep deprivation has reduced your ability to recognize and respond to each other in a rational, civilized manner. You’re more likely to blame one another, get angry, and less likely to accept responsibility.
On top of that, couples who don’t get enough sleep are less likely to show gratitude towards each other, and significantly more likely to feel unappreciated.
And as though that’s not enough, lack of sleep decreases libido. And many of the parents I’ve worked with have had separate sleeping arrangements due to bed-sharing with a child out of desperation for any kind of sleep, and so there’s not a lot of opportunity for intimacy.
Now, bringing a baby into the world and watching that baby grow can be a romantic experience, and it’s a period in your life that deserves to be cherished. But that’s not easy to do if you and your spouse are arguing all the time because neither of you are getting enough sleep.
There are many reasons to make your child’s sleep a priority for their own well-being. But I want to lovingly nudge you to consider what it can mean for you, your spouse, and your relationship. You’re both going to be happier and you’re going to have the time and energy to re-unite and fall in love all over again. And aren’t those the parents you want your kids to grow up watching and learning from?
As a professional sleep coach, I’ve seen time and time again with the families that I work with, the life-changing benefits that a personalized sleep plan has on the entire family.
Ready to get your little one sleeping through the night so you can all get the rest you need?
Book your free sleep evaluation call today.