Child-Proofing your Marriage

Author: Dr. Debbie L. Cherry

As a parent of two toddlers, this book resonated deeply with me. It captures the reality of how parenting can drain time and energy from a marriage, while offering hope that things don’t have to stay that way. The idea that great parents can also be great spouses is refreshing and encouraging.

Marriage and family psychologist and counselor Dr. Debbie Cherry notes:

“Often couples spend their child-rearing years nurturing their children at the expense of their marriage. Couples tend to think, After the kids are gone, we’ll get to be a couple again. In many cases, by the time the kids are off to college, so much distance has crept in that couples hardly know each other. But this scenario can easily be avoided!”

The book emphasizes the importance of being couple-focused rather than child-focused. It provides proactive steps for couples to nurture and protect their relationship even in the busiest parenting years—helping to prevent unnecessary arguments and even divorce.

In his foreword, Dr. Gary D. Chapman writes:

“We must learn to ‘childproof’ our marriages during those parenting years, or we will soon learn that the marriage withers and dies. The best gift we can offer to our kids is a great marriage, but when parenting bends the back of marriage, often kids suffer the most.”

I found this book both personal and practical. It offers real-life strategies that can make a tangible difference in your relationship. I recommend it to any couple with children at home—or anyone considering parenting in the near future.