**This is part 3 of a 3 part series on the Modern Parent. See The Modern Parent for part two of this series.** The journey to parenthood is, at the very least, a roller coaster full of ups and downs. So much is changing for both men and women that it can be difficult to remember the importance of making time for one’s self. Without proper self care and support from others, parenthood can be an exhausting, isolating, and extremely confusing time. Navigating the formation of a

What Happens to Our Identities When We Are Expecting A Baby? When do we “feel” like adults? This question seems to hang over the heads of most individuals. Passing legally defined age markers, gaining the right to vote, or turning twenty-one seems to do little to solidify one’s feeling on fully embodying what it is to be a grown up. According to researchers studying human development, the path to adulthood is bound to five central markers: Finishing school, leaving home, acqu

One of the most beautiful and powerful moments in life is when we remember that we are all in it together. When we find our common humanity. When we come together as one. Often people forget this and end up in the mindset that when one wins, the other will lose. If there are the “haves”, there will be the “have nots”. That to give to one is to take from another. This polarization mindset leads to feelings of insecurity, isolation, loneliness, and mistrust. When this is the re

Throughout our lives there will be times when the person we love and care about is going through a difficult time. Maybe they are having a rough day, have an illness, have had something distressing happen, or are simply feeling overwhelmed at the moment. What can you do when you see your partner in distress? What may immediately come to mind is that helping your partner in difficult moments is the key. True; and this might seem kind of like a given, I mean you love your part

Does the beginning of a relationship mean the death of your independence? For some people, the answer may not be as clear cut as you may think. A reason for this may be found in part by the examples of “commitment” as portrayed on TV, social media, or popular culture. There are many stereotypes regarding what a committed relationship looks like. Some of them can be very positive; however, there is one in particular that can be discouraging, and that is the overly intertwined

Are you sick of being the couple that is “too much”? Tired of getting dirty looks from passersby as you hold your partner’s hand and kiss in public? Are you so over being asked, “how do you guys do it”? Is being in a good relationship just not where you imagined you would be at this point in your life?? Well, good news for you!! Below are five easy ways to quickly ruin any relationship. Follow the steps below and you will be well on your way to taking the romance and connecti

Every relationship has its’ ups and downs. In the context of romantic relationships, it usually happens that people view times of connection with their partner as “ups”, and times of conflict or disagreements as “down”. Of course every relationship will have its’ moments where the partners don’t agree, or one person needs to express dissatisfaction with the way things are going or the way the other person is doing things. However, the goal of most people in relationships is t

Sometimes marriage can feel like a long ride on the “struggle bus”. Particularly for those who have never been married, or who have been in marriages that didn’t go the distance, it can seem confusing that people keep choosing to join this institution of marriage when it only appears to make everyone miserable. Almost everywhere you turn, popular and social media is full of examples of miserable spouses, bickering partners, unfulfilled romantic dreams, and failed marriages. A

“Irreconcilable differences”, “we wanted different things”, “I didn’t know who he/she was anymore”, “after awhile we didn’t have anything in common”, “we just grew apart”. Whether you’ve seen one of those sentences in the news, heard it uttered by a friend, or used it yourself, you may recognize some of those phrases as frequently cited reasons for seeking a divorce. What all those sentiments have in common is an expression of an irreparable distance that has come between the

A wise person once said, “To have peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart”. For those who work in the first responder community the descriptors in the first part of that sentence may sound like a regular, if not simple, day on the job. Noise, trouble, hard work? No big deal! Try adding chaos, crises, and danger to that list! In nearly every study conducted