Parenting Insights
By Emma Parker
Updated: September 20, 2017
Originally Published: January 6, 2015
Dear Partner,
Lately, I’ve noticed that both of us have been a bit off our game. We’re weary, and the daily grind has us feeling stretched thin. While moments of happiness do exist, they often feel overshadowed by constant fatigue.
You bear the responsibility of supporting our family of four, and I see how that weighs on you. Stress and worry seem to accompany you home, where you face the chaos of bath time and bedtime routines. If you’re fortunate, you wake up to an alarm clock, but often it’s our little one who starts the day long before you’re ready.
Meanwhile, I spend my days with our two young children, running on minimal sleep and feeling like my body is no longer my own. The hours drag, yet I often feel like I’m racing against the clock to accomplish anything. Many days, I struggle with feelings of inadequacy as a mother and a partner. Why is it so difficult to manage two kids and have dinner ready for you? I worry you might share those concerns.
I want to apologize for the moments when I’ve argued with you or let my frustrations spill over. For the times I’ve raised my voice or jumped to negative conclusions about you.
In truth, I am incredibly grateful for you. Thank you for getting up early with the baby and for making time to play with our children each day. Your support for my parenting choices means the world to me. You go above and beyond to provide for our family, and I appreciate it more than I say.
I often drift off to sleep thinking about those brief, lingering hugs we share in the hallway. In those moments, when you pull me close and hold me tight, I feel your love. Despite the chaos of our new life together, we are still very much us.
It’s easy to reminisce about the love we shared before children—our frequent dates, cozy nights on the couch, and heartfelt notes exchanged. That was love, but I believe the real love is what we’re experiencing now. It’s in the everyday sacrifices we make. Whether it’s letting you sleep in while I tend to the kids or taking over bath time so you can have a moment of peace, these small acts illustrate our commitment to one another. It’s about putting our needs aside for the children we’ve brought into this world, while lifting each other up along the way. This is what true love embodies.
I’ve heard that navigating these early parenting years can be challenging, but I firmly believe we’ll get through it together. We’re no longer just a couple; we’re a family. You are my family, my sanctuary amidst the chaos, and I can’t envision my life without you. For every dirty diaper you change, every late night you endure, and every hour you dedicate to work, I will remember that these gestures—though unromantic—are the essence of our love today. This is what true love looks like.
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Summary
In the midst of parenting challenges, true love manifests in the sacrifices and efforts partners make for each other and their children. Acknowledging the exhaustion and stress that comes with family life, the author expresses gratitude for their partner’s support and highlights the importance of small, everyday gestures as the foundation of love.