Returning to Work after Parental Leave:   Get Emotional Needs met through Spouse Support

Returning to Work after Parental Leave: Get Emotional Needs met through Spouse Support

Author: Evie Mpras, MS, LMFT May 8, 2026 Duration: 23:47

How can you and your spouse stay connected in the return to work after maternity leave or parental leave? Adjusting to the transition and re-navigating division of labor can bring significant tension.

So how do you get emotional support and stay in each other’s corner when the mental load and invisible load is high, there are identity shifts happening, and you’re both still adjusting to marriage after baby?

In this episode, MJ Harford, LPC and I discuss what emotional safety new parents can build together as a foundation to navigate issues that come up with the return to work.

MJ is a therapist serving individual clients in Virginia & DC, specializing in maternal mental health. She is also the founder of Resilient Returns, where she helps working parents and businesses navigate the transition back to work after parental leave.  

MJ and I share how couples can co-create emotional safety and managing emotional triggers around returning to work and division of labor so that you can navigate together without defensiveness, shutting down, and lashing out. So you guys can stay on the same team!

Part 2 of our discussion next week will dive into concrete tools and approaches that can help ease the transition back to work after parental leave.

Resources and deals for the working parent:

MJ’s division of labor exercise: interactive + digital workbook.

All Bonds after Baby listeners can use the code BAB50 at checkout to receive 50% off their parent program purchase at Resilient Returns

Connect with Evie

Website

Support for Couples

Instagram @bondsafterbaby


This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education. 


There's a quiet shift that happens after a baby arrives, where the focus understandably turns to the newborn, yet the foundation of the family-the partnership-often strains under new pressures. Bonds after Baby: Rebuild your marriage, reduce postpartum resentment & guard maternal mental health speaks directly into that space. Hosted by Evie Mpras, a licensed marriage and family therapist, this podcast is a resource for parents who find themselves navigating unexpected conflict and a sense of disconnection even as they manage all the practical preparations. It’s for those who sometimes feel resentment, isolation, or a fading spark, and who long to reclaim a sense of teamwork and intimacy. Each episode offers grounded, professional insights from Evie’s practice, focusing on actionable communication strategies, managing mental load, and fostering emotional safety. You’ll hear discussions on repairing ruptures, dividing unseen labor, and protecting maternal well-being as a cornerstone for the whole family. This isn’t about adding more to your to-do list; it’s about transforming the quality of your connection from the inside out, turning postpartum challenges into a pathway for a stronger, more resilient partnership. Tune in for honest conversations that help you guard your mental health and rebuild the bond that started it all.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 42

Bonds after Baby: Rebuild your marriage, reduce postpartum resentment & guard maternal mental health
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