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Based on the study, the ideal arrangement, producing the best combination of relationship and sexual satisfaction, is for parents to share child care responsibilities.

I recommend that husbands not wait for their wives to raise the subject of sharing child care responsibilities. The chances are she will not raise the issue until she is exasperated. At that point, husbands are more likely to become defensive or feel like a heel for not stepping in sooner.

Discuss your child care arrangements with your spouse. Many frustrations in relationships occur because wishes and needs aren’t expressed or heard. Look for a time that the two of you can talk and listen without distractions. For example, sit on the patio, take a walk together without the kids, or go on a date to a quiet restaurant.

Create an inventory of all of the household child care responsibilities and note which of you currently handles each one. This would be a good time for dads to give moms credit for all the work they do! The moms may think their husbands don’t have a clue — and if this is the case, humbly fess up to it.

Moms, if you want Dad to be more involved in child care, this is a good time to give dads credit for the work they do, as small as it may seem. A study at Ohio State University found that dads got more involved in the day-to-day care of a child when they received encouragement from moms.

Related: Biggest Difference Between Moms and Dads

Be sure to understand the difference between your own wishes and needs. Be able to express the difference. Share with each other your thoughts of what the ideal child care sharing arrangement might look like. Dad, let mom share first to avoid embarrassing yourself. Allow her ideas to influence your ideas of how an ideal sharing of child care responsibilities might look.

Agree on changes to the child care arrangement, and set a time a few months down the road to discuss how things are working. Dads, don’t expect moms to settle for an even split of the duties. Moms’ views on how much a dad should participate in child care vary.  Working toward an arrangement that satisfies both of you will benefit from efforts to understand each other’s wishes and needs. In the end, most dads should expect to walk away with greater responsibility.

Related: If You’re a Dad, You’re Called to Be a Hero

A few months down the road, as you revisit your child care arrangements, make adjustments as needed to assure each other continued satisfaction. Adjustments will be needed as each child grows, and as your other responsibilities change.

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Jon Beaty, counselor and father of two, lives near Portland, Oregon. He’s the author of the book “If You’re Not Growing, You’re Dying: 7 Habits for Thriving in Your Faith, Relationships and Work.” [lz_pagination]