Anybody who has kids will tell you that few things drastically change the dynamic of a romantic relationship like becoming parents. It is something that can really make or break the connection between you; your partner can show you heartwarming new depths, or they can throw a tantrum about not being the center of attention anymore. No matter how strong the relationship is, there is no denying that you are going to spend a lot less time with just the two of you. Getting around this isn’t easy.

This is something that one couple struggled to navigate this New Year’s Eve when a husband surprised his wife with tickets to a show but that meant leaving their 3-year-old with her mother-in-law. This made her reluctant to go out, and it turned into a source of disagreement for the couple. There were many layers to the reasoning for the decision that she made.