CHAPTER 1
 INTRODUCTION

 Madison's tiny hand clasped around her mother's little finger while she looked up

sleepily at her father. Sarah cradled their newborn baby in her arms as she and her

husband smiled contentedly at one another. After nine months of anticipation, their first

baby had finally arrived. They had left their home the night before as partners and they

would be returning home soon as parents. Rob had arranged to take a couple weeks off

from work to be at home with his wife and baby. Sarah recently had quit her job as a

paralegal. After much debate, the couple decided this was for the best; Sarah simply did

not earn enough money to make the cost of outside child care worthwhile. While she

worried about falling behind in her career, she also looked forward to bonding with

Madison on a deep emotional level. A few months later, both Sarah and Rob were

struggling to settle into their new roles. Rob worked hard to provide for his family that

months earlier had been one person smaller and one income richer. Sarah spent her days

caring for Madison. Now that she was a "stay-at-home mom," she also felt obliged to

take on household chores that had been Rob's responsibility before the birth of their

baby. Both partners felt their spouse did not understand the unique individual strains they

were under. As time went on, both felt less and less connected with each other and

resentful about the isolated roles in which they found themselves.

 As illustrated in this hypothetical case, parenthood brings new joys and new

challenges to couples as they embark on the journey of raising a child. While couples

expect changes will be necessary, most are not fully aware of how these changes will