Marriage & Motherhood - How To Reconnect With Your Spouse After Kids

Michelle Purta
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Motherhood changes everything... including your marriage. If you’re a mom who feels disconnected from your husband, stuck in roommate mode, or exhausted by the constant tension, miscommunication, or emotional distance after kids, this podcast is for you. Join Marriage Coach Michelle Purta each week to learn how to strengthen your marriage without waiting until the kids are grown. Each episode offers practical communication tools, mindset shifts, and real conversations that help you rebuild emotional connection, navigate conflict without escalation, and feel like true partners again...not just co-parents managing a household. This show is especially for you if you want to:• Communicate clearly without shutdowns or blow-ups• Reduce resentment and mental load in motherhood and marriage• Reconnect emotionally and rebuild intimacy after kids• Create a healthier, more connected marriage in the middle of busy family life Having a strong marriage is all about learning the right skills, not about being perfect.  This podcast is your weekly reminder that you don’t have to choose between being a great mom and having a deeply connected marriage. Ready for deeper support? Learn more about marriage coaching here: https://michellepurta.as.me/clarity

  1. 1D AGO

    Ep. 277 - Why Kids Don’t Listen the First Time (And What Actually Works Instead) with Becky Jennings

    Let us know how you enjoyed this episode! Most kids don’t ignore their parents because they’re disrespectful. They ignore them because their brain isn’t developmentally ready to respond yet. If you’ve ever found yourself repeating the same instruction five times before your child finally listens, you’re not alone. Many parents fall into a frustrating cycle: You ask nicely. Your child ignores you. You repeat yourself. You get frustrated. Eventually you yell. And suddenly everyone in the house feels upset. In this episode, I am joined by parenting coach Becky Jennings of Responseable Parenting to unpack what’s actually happening when kids don’t listen. The truth is that many children simply don’t have the neurological development or emotional regulation skills to transition immediately when asked. Their brains are still learning how to shift attention, manage frustration, and respond to direction. When parents understand the nervous system dynamics behind behavior, they can stop taking these moments personally and start responding in ways that actually work. This conversation is especially helpful for parents raising strong-willed or neurodivergent children, where traditional discipline strategies often create more conflict instead of cooperation. In this episode we discuss: • Why kids often cannot respond immediately when asked to do something • The difference between disrespect and nervous system overwhelm • How motivation, play, and curiosity help children transition between activities • How parents can regulate their own nervous system before responding • Why connection leads to more cooperation than control • How to balance emotional awareness without becoming permissive Connect with Becky: Instagram: @responsableparenting Podcast: ResponseABLE Parenting Thanks for listening! Connect and send a message letting me know what you took away from this episode: @michellepurtacoaching If you would like to support this show, please rate and review the show, and share it with people you know would love this show too! Ready to put a stop to the arguments in your marriage?  Watch this free masterclass - The #1 Conversation Married Couples Need To Have (But Aren't) Support the show

    54 min

  2. 6D AGO

    Ep. 276 - How To Restore Your Connection After Kids

    Let us know how you enjoyed this episode! Have you felt more and more disconnected from your partner after having kids? Most couples don’t stop loving each other after kids. They just stop prioritizing their marriage and that's what causes the disconnect. After kids enter the picture, life gets full fast. Between school schedules, activities, work responsibilities, chores, and bedtime routines, it can feel like there’s barely enough time to breathe, let alone nurture your relationship. So couples adapt. They become efficient. They divide responsibilities. They manage the household. And somewhere along the way, the marriage quietly shifts from romantic partnership to operational partnership. That’s when many couples begin to feel like roommates. In this episode, I explain why this shift happens and how couples can intentionally rebuild connection even in the middle of busy family life. You’ll learn why waiting for the “perfect time” to reconnect rarely works, how small daily moments can rebuild closeness, and why prioritizing your marriage actually strengthens the entire family system. If you’ve been feeling distant from your spouse but still want a strong partnership and connected marriage, this episode will help you rethink how connection fits into your everyday life. What You’ll Learn in This Episode Why couples often feel like roommates after kidsHow busy family life quietly pushes marriage to the bottom of the priority listWhy connection disappears even when love is still thereHow micro-connections rebuild intimacy over timeSimple ways to reconnect even without childcareWhy prioritizing your marriage benefits your kids tooIf you don’t intentionally structure your life around your marriage, life will slowly structure you out of it. Think it's more than just taking the time to connect? Book a clarity call to start receiving support to identify what’s really happening and what skills and changes are needed to restore the connection in your marriage! Thanks for listening! Connect and send a message letting me know what you took away from this episode: @michellepurtacoaching If you would like to support this show, please rate and review the show, and share it with people you know would love this show too! Support the show

    37 min

  3. MAR 3

    Ep. 275 - How Inner Child Healing Changes the Way You Parent with Lavinia Brown

    Let us know how you enjoyed this episode! Have you ever reacted to your kids in a way that brought on feelings of guilt and shame? Looking back, have you ever felt surprised by how strongly you reacted when you lost your cool or struggled to stay calm when the kids aren't listening? Parenting triggers aren’t random. They’re rooted in your past. I am joined by Psychodynamic Coach Lavinia Brown to talk about inner child healing and how it directly impacts the way you parent. In this episode, you’ll learn: - What “inner child” really means (in simple, practical terms) - Why parenting activates unresolved childhood wounds - How triggers reveal unhealed attachment trauma - What re-parenting actually looks like - Why nervous system regulation and inner child healing go hand-in-hand - The difference between normal frustration and disproportionate reactivity Connect with Lavinia: Becoming Untriggered Podcast Instagram: @the.innerchild.healing.expert YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtFSVu5DC5O2-f25L0U8rAw Facebook: @the.innerchild.healing.expert Thanks for listening! Connect and send a message letting me know what you took away from this episode: @michellepurtacoaching If you would like to support this show, please rate and review the show, and share it with people you know would love this show too! Ready to put a stop to the arguments in your marriage?  Watch this free masterclass - The #1 Conversation Married Couples Need To Have (But Aren't) Support the show

    41 min

  4. FEB 26

    Ep. 274 - Emotional Maturity In Marriage

    Let us know how you enjoyed this episode! Emotional maturity is the difference between repeating patterns and transforming your marriage into a relationship that gets better and better. In this episode of The Marriage & Motherhood Podcast, I break down what emotional maturity actually looks like in a marriage— and what often gets mistakened for maturity. This episode will help you understand: - What emotional maturity really means in marriage - Why projection feels relieving in the moment - The difference between intention vs. impact - Why conflict is inevitable but arguing is optional - How to pause, regulate, and collaborate instead of accuse If you’re ready to stop the blame cycle and build emotional safety in your relationship, this is a must listen. If you're ready for personalized support to help your marriage get back on track with healthy communication, book your clarity call here! Thanks for listening! Connect and send a message letting me know what you took away from this episode: @michellepurtacoaching If you would like to support this show, please rate and review the show, and share it with people you know would love this show too! Support the show

    34 min

  5. FEB 24

    Ep. 273 - Why Letting Your Kids Be Bored Is Important with Lizzie Assa

    Let us know how you enjoyed this episode! Letting your kids be bored isn't a failure on your part. Boredom is actually essential for your kid's development. In this episode of The Marriage & Motherhood Podcast, I am joined by Lizzie Assa, founder of The Workspace for Children and author of But I’m Bored: Discover the Power of Independent Play to Raise Confident, Resilient Kids. We talk about why modern parents feel overstimulated, pressured to entertain, and responsible for optimizing every minute of childhood — and how that may actually be working against our kids. In this episode we dive into: - why boredom is not neglect — it’s neurological growth - the connection between independent play and executive functioning - why college students today struggle with resilience - how to respond when your child says “I’m bored” - what “play pockets” are and how to create them in your home - the difference between connection and entertainment - how to balance downtime and extracurricular activities - why it’s not your job to “find your child’s thing” - how play builds leadership, frustration tolerance, and autonomy Connect with Lizzie: Substack: https://theworkspaceforchildren.substack.com/ Website: https://www.workspaceforchildren.com/twfc-blog Grab her book here! Thanks for listening! Connect and send a message letting me know what you took away from this episode: @michellepurtacoaching If you would like to support this show, please rate and review the show, and share it with people you know would love this show too! Ready to put a stop to the arguments in your marriage?  Watch this free masterclass - The #1 Conversation Married Couples Need To Have (But Aren't) Support the show

    38 min

  6. FEB 19

    Ep. 272 - How To Have Consensual Conversations With Your Spouse

    Let us know how you enjoyed this episode! One person wanting to talk and the other shutting down doesn’t mean one of you cares more. It means your nervous systems cope differently. If you feel like you’re always the one trying to talk things through — or you’re the one who shuts down and gets overwhelmed — this episode will help you understand what’s actually happening beneath the surface. In this episode, I break down: - The pursue–withdraw dynamic in marriage - Why shutting down is about protection, not avoidance - How to stop taking withdrawal personally - What “consensual conversations” are and why they change everything - How to use pacing to prevent arguments - The Japanese concept of ma and how intentional pauses improve communication - How to set conversations up for success instead of forcing resolution If you're ready for personalized support to help your marriage get back on track with healthy communication, book your clarity call here! Thanks for listening! Connect and send a message letting me know what you took away from this episode: @michellepurtacoaching If you would like to support this show, please rate and review the show, and share it with people you know would love this show too! Support the show

    25 min

  7. FEB 17

    Ep. 271 - Growing Up With Immigrant Parents: The Patterns That Follow Us with Dr. Stacey Litam

    Let us know how you enjoyed this episode! Growing up with immigrant parents shapes how we love, communicate, and show up in marriage. In this powerful conversation, I am joined by Dr. Stacey Litam, licensed professional clinical counselor and author of Patterns That Remain: A Guide to Healing for Asian Children of Immigrants, to explore: - How transactional love patterns form in immigrant households - Why achievement often becomes tied to worth - The impact of collectivistic vs. individualistic culture on marriage - Why affection can feel uncomfortable — and how to navigate that - Modeling healthy self-care for your children - Healing “in-between” identity struggles Connect with Dr. Stacey: Website: www.staceylitam.com IG: @drstaceyalitam LinkedIn: @Stacey Diane A. Litam Grab her book here! Thanks for listening! Connect and send a message letting me know what you took away from this episode: @michellepurtacoaching If you would like to support this show, please rate and review the show, and share it with people you know would love this show too! Ready to put a stop to the arguments in your marriage?  Watch this free masterclass - The #1 Conversation Married Couples Need To Have (But Aren't) Support the show

    39 min

  8. FEB 12

    Ep. 270 - Why Your Conversations Are Failing Even When You're Doing Everything Right

    Let us know how you enjoyed this episode! Most communication breakdowns happen before anyone even starts talking. If you’ve ever walked into a conversation with your spouse calm and they still got defensive or shutdown, this episode is for you. In this episode, I break down the often-missed step that determines whether your conversations lead to connection or conflict: nervous system regulation before engagement. Tune in to learn: - Why intention vs. impact matters more than wording - How your nervous system shapes your tone, body language, and pacing - Why “I statements” don’t fix dysregulation - The hidden reason your partner shuts down - How the P (Pause) step in the P.E.A.C.E. Method changes everything - Practical questions to ask yourself before initiating a hard conversation If you’re tired of repetitive arguments, walking on eggshells, or feeling like roommates after conflict, this episode will help you approach conversations in a way that creates safety instead of pressure. Mentioned in this episode: - Free masterclass - The #1 Conversation Couples Need To Have (But Aren't) If this episode has helped you realize that deeper support is needed, you can schedule a Clarity Call with me to talk through what’s happening in your marriage and what would actually help. Thanks for listening! Connect and send a message letting me know what you took away from this episode: @michellepurtacoaching If you would like to support this show, please rate and review the show, and share it with people you know would love this show too! Support the show

    28 min
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About

Motherhood changes everything... including your marriage. If you’re a mom who feels disconnected from your husband, stuck in roommate mode, or exhausted by the constant tension, miscommunication, or emotional distance after kids, this podcast is for you. Join Marriage Coach Michelle Purta each week to learn how to strengthen your marriage without waiting until the kids are grown. Each episode offers practical communication tools, mindset shifts, and real conversations that help you rebuild emotional connection, navigate conflict without escalation, and feel like true partners again...not just co-parents managing a household. This show is especially for you if you want to:• Communicate clearly without shutdowns or blow-ups• Reduce resentment and mental load in motherhood and marriage• Reconnect emotionally and rebuild intimacy after kids• Create a healthier, more connected marriage in the middle of busy family life Having a strong marriage is all about learning the right skills, not about being perfect.  This podcast is your weekly reminder that you don’t have to choose between being a great mom and having a deeply connected marriage. Ready for deeper support? Learn more about marriage coaching here: https://michellepurta.as.me/clarity

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