When conversations around fatherhood happen, they often focus on traditional “male” actions. Fiscal responsibility, providing, or being dependable jump to mind for me almost immediately as examples! Don’t get me wrong. Those things absolutely matter. But emotional health is just as important, and it has a profound impact on family and relationship dynamics. As much as we (or they) would like to think it, fathers are not separate from the emotional climate of a home. Their stress levels,...

In many relationships, the tension around “who does what” doesn’t start as a big problem. In fact, it’s hardly noticeable. But then weeks or months or years of a dish being left in the sink, or a calendar that lives only in one partner’s head, start to feel like…a lot. Like an imbalance. And when that happens, it’s easy to slip into something that feels a lot like scorekeeping, even if that was never the intention. “I did this, so you should do that.” “I always handle this.” “Why do I have to...

When a couple becomes parents, things don’t just add on. They can completely shift! Roles change. Routines change. And often, without much discussion, expectations change too. What used to feel natural in a relationship can start to feel unfamiliar. That’s usually because before kids, roles in a relationship tend to feel more flexible and fluid. There’s often more room to adjust, trade off, and respond in the moment. After kids, those roles can become more defined. Sometimes, without either...