How to Keep Your Kids From Sabotaging Your Marriage

It may be obvious, it may be cliche, but it's crucial! If all of your time together is spent with kids, chances are, you'll lose sight of the things that made you fall in love in the first place. Make date nights a priority — however and whenever they fit into your schedule.

"Me time" is the easiest thing for a busy mom to cut out of her schedule. It usually falls to the bottom of the priority ranking of family, relationship, work, and friendships. But carving out even an hour a week to do the things you love to do on your own will make you a happier, more satisfied spouse.

If you feel like you bear the brunt of the household chores and familial responsibility and have any sort of resentment about it, stop playing martyr — immediately. Your spouse may be completely oblivious to the situation and is probably more than willing to hear you out. Let your spouse know that you're overwhelmed, and come up with a solution instead of offering passive-aggressive jabs.

You'll always need your girlfriends! While girls' nights probably happen far less frequently now that you're a mom, don't underestimate the women in your life. Being able to share experiences, frustrations, and laughs with people whose company you truly enjoy will make you a happier individual and can in turn take some of the pressure off your partner from being your sole adult sounding board.

If an annual weekend getaway or monthly dinner and a movie were part of your prekids life together, make an effort to stick with these traditions for two. While we typically associate family traditions with holidays and rituals that everyone is in on, remember that it's OK to carve out some adults-only time too.

It's impossible to feel the same way about your in-laws as you do your own family (for better or for worse), but there's no surer way to create a divide between yourself and your spouse than playing favorites in front of your kids.

Find the good in both sides of the family, and play up the positive in front of your children. If you need to vent or complain, do so when you and your partner are alone (or, better yet, do so with those fab girlfriends mentioned above!).

Is there anything worse than taking a firm stance on a parenting position only to have your partner play "good cop" in front of the kids? Whether it's a silly request or a serious issue, form a united front to present to your kids, and stick to it — both of you.

If you can swing it, once a year (or more!), be sure to take a night off — all the way off — for yourselves. Whether the kids go sleep over at grandma and grandpa's, mom and dad check into a hotel, or it's a full-blown weekend getaway, having a full 24-hour respite will do you a world of good!