I was completely shocked by how much time my newborn baby (my first) took. I could hardly believe at the time of how difficult it is to try to get a shower or nap in, let alone time with my husband. It caught him off-guard, too, and our marriage really struggled for a bit there. Three years later, and another baby added to the family, we've found our balance...for now. That's something I eventually came to grips with -- my relationships with my husband is always changing and evolving just like my relationships with my children. Sometimes, some days, some moments, it's hard to feel connected; other times, all is great.

But I wholeheartedly agree with the point that the marriage has to be strong for the benefit of the children. It's just a great balancing act, I guess. We all need to get our needs met sometime, but have to learn that sometimes we have to wait.

That's one of the many things AP has over other parenting styles. Yes, we're meeting our children's needs, but we're not completely child-centered. Mom and Dad's needs still matter. I thought the book told that perspective very well -- that the parents need balance, they need to met their own needs, to be able to meet their children's needs. It's a great way of putting that when someone criticizes AP as too child-centered.

I loved what you wrote here. It is so very true.