It takes a lot of hard work to make a marriage work. Exchanging your vows does not guarantee you will lead a happy marital life. Raising children is another problematic aspect of life. When you combine the two, life becomes demanding. You need to compromise with your spouse and learn how to raise your children without it causing unnecessary complications. However, a burdensome child can wind up ruining your marriage because of parenting burnout. Today, we will explore how a difficult child can ruin your relationship and how to deal with this issue.
Parenting Burnout Is a Serious Problem
Statistics from the Wall Street Journal show that parenting burnout is a serious problem. The report states that two-thirds of couples that have children experience the quality of their relationship decrease within the first three years of the child’s birth. Women usually control the perception of dissatisfaction in marriages, and more mothers are filing for divorce because of parenting burnout. More than 40 percent of couples will separate within five years of the birth of their first child.
Parenting Burnout Symptoms
Symptoms of parenting burnout include:
- Anger
- Critical of yourself
- Lack of humor
- Emotionless
- Stumble through your routine
- Stare at the TV, phone, tablet, or computer screen in a hypnotic way
- Suffer from mood swings
- Low energy
- React to frustration inappropriately
- Struggle to finish sentences
What Causes Parenting Burnout?
A problematic child ruining a marriage is more common than you might think. It has become a pervasive problem throughout the country. Everyone wants to be perfect, even though it is not a realistic goal. Trying to be a perfect parent can lead to serious marital issues. So, what often leads to parenting burnout? Some of the most common causes include the following:
- Sleeping less
- Overeating
- Not exercising
- Not socializing with non-parents
- Lack of self-reflection
- Responding more to your child’s wants
- Ignoring your partner’s needs
- Living in a reactive state
How to Move to Self-Care
To avoid the question of how children can ruin a marriage, you need to move towards self-care. Self-care is vital to the health of your relationship, as well as your body and mind. You need to resume exercising, even if it is going for a walk around the neighborhood once per day.
Schedule a weekly date with your spouse or significant other. When you become a parent, it is not your identity. Parenting is a part of you, and it doesn’t make you who you are by itself. You must set aside time for yourself and your spouse to keep the marriage fresh.
Focus on yourself by taking a class, going to a book club, visiting a museum, attending a concert, or doing any other hobby you enjoyed before having children. Your life does not have to become stagnant because you have children.
Dealing with Parenting Burnout? Contact an Experienced Therapist Today
If you are struggling with a difficult child in your marriage, you need to get in front of the problem as soon as possible to prevent the relationship from ending. Parenting burnout is not uncommon, especially in today’s technology-driven world. If you find yourself in this situation, it’s time to consult with an experienced and professional therapist in New York. Call Marriage Couples Counseling in New York City at (212) 673-4618 to schedule an appointment today and start solving your parenting burnout issues before they consume your marriage.
