Do children change the dynamics of a marriage for better or for worse? Some couples stop directing their focus on each other and redirect it to their children or elsewhere. Author Carol Ummel Lindquist, Ph.D., explores the role of parenthood and shows how couples can make their marriage a solid, satisfying one after the children are born. Her book, which every couple — with kids or considering kids — should read is Happily Married with Kids: It’s Not Just a Fairy Tale, published by Berkley Publishing Group, January 2004.

From the Press Release for Happily Married with Kids: It’s Not Just a Fairy Tale:

Is Your Marriage Stuck in “the parent trap”?
 
If you’re like most new parents, you’ve discovered that the arrival of a newborn – and the subsequent changes in priorities and lifestyle – can put a tremendous strain on even the best of marriages. In fact, research indicates that 67 percent of new parents complain they are having less sex, less fun, and more arguments than before kids entered the picture.
 
Now, Dr. Carol Ummel Lindquist, marriage counselor and happily married mother of two, explores why parenthood can sometimes wreak havoc on your dreams of a happily-ever-after – and reveals what you can do to make your own marriage a solid, satisfying one. Inspired by the author’s twenty-five years of professional experience – and her own successful marriage – Happily Married with Kids reveals how you can:
 
–Avoid the real parent trap: Exhaustion and disruption
–Manage conflicts and improve communication
–Stay best friends with your spouse
–Balance work and home
–Enjoy your kids –- and each other –- at every age
–Revive your sex life
–Find humor in everyday difficulties
–Make time for yourself and your marriage
 
Engaging, fun, and practical, this indispensable guide offers a realistic look at marriage – and at what you can do to protect yours from the pitfalls of parenthood.