The Importance of Taking Breaks – and Remembering to Stay a Couple

Our little son is three months old and has his first real cold – coughing, sniffling, and struggling to breathe while drinking. Meanwhile, his big brother, two years and three months old, is right in the middle of the “terrible twos.” Rules? Optional. Putting on socks before going outside at five degrees Celsius? A full-blown battle.

Days like these are exhausting. And when you add sleep deprivation on top, it becomes truly hard. You’re tired, drained, irritable – and all you really want is a few quiet minutes to yourself.

But these phases are part of parenthood. They’re normal. They pass. Luckily, our baby is already feeling a bit better, and the nights are slowly calming down again.

How to Cope Anyway

In a perfect world, we’d always be patient, loving, and in tune with our children’s needs. But we’re only human, and we reach our limits. That’s why it’s so important to create space for ourselves – to breathe, rest, and reconnect.

For us, that means intentional breaks.Tomorrow, we’re dropping both boys off at their grandparents for a few hours. During that time, my wife and I are going to a spa – something we’ve been planning for weeks and genuinely looking forward to. Not because we want to “get rid of” the kids, but because we know we can only be good parents when we also recharge as individuals – and as a couple.

Plan It – or It Won’t Happen

That’s probably the most important part: these breaks don’t just happen by themselves.You have to plan them. Early. Put them on the calendar. Otherwise, something will always come up – a fever, a playdate, a work thing. There’s always something.

But when you do make time for these moments – consciously and without guilt – the whole family benefits.You’re calmer. More patient. More loving.And despite all the chaos, you stay not just parents – but partners, too.

Good luck.

Rafael