If the cost of a babysitter is prohibitive, find another couple to exchange babysitting with. Go out and do some of the things you did together when you first fell in love. Dads often feel left out of that intimate mother-infant relationship and long for a reminder that they're still important to you. Every so often, surprise your husband with a token of your affection. Send a romantic card to him at his office, put a loving note in his sock drawer, or arrange a surprise lunch with him in the middle of the week.
Recent research shows that children do better when their mothers take care of themselves.
Maintaining a close, loving relationship with your husband is an important part of self-care. And in the long run, you and your husband will also be teaching your children a great lesson about the value of a strong marriage. Dr. Martha Farrell Erickson, director of the University of Minnesota's Children, Youth and Family Consortium , invites your questions on child rearing for possible inclusion in this column. See other topics in the Archive .