Ideas for returning to each other.
Browse the Journal.
Search for something specific, or browse by format and topic.
Searches titles, descriptions, topics, categories, and the full text of every published Journal piece.
More topics
Growth & Change
Staying curious about the person your spouse is becoming and growing alongside each other through new seasons.
Search the Journal
Results from across all published Essays and Stories.

We Love Our Kids. We Also Miss Us.
You can adore your children and still miss the version of your marriage that had more room to breathe. Here’s how couples can stay connected when parenting turns most conversations into logistics, bedtime negotiations, and questions about who moved the water bottle.

EP 5: Ben Is Dancing? Claire Has Questions.
Ben starts dancing in the kitchen. Claire is not entirely convinced that “dancing” is the correct word. Somewhere between children, work, errands, and becoming respectable adults, they begin wondering when they stopped being quite so ridiculous together.

EP 4: Maya and Daniel Are Running a Very Efficient Household
Maya and Daniel have the bills paid, the kids scheduled, the groceries ordered, and the household running with impressive efficiency. The only thing they may have forgotten to keep up with is each other.

How Couples Slowly Become Roommates—and How to Catch It Early
When marriage starts feeling more like managing a household than enjoying each other, the drift can be easy to miss. Here’s how to notice roommate mode early—and start moving back toward each other.