COUPLES EXERCISE: Set Shared Intentions and Get Aligned With Your Partner Before Parenthood

Get step-by-step guidance through a process of reflections and discussion prompts to create alignment and deepen connection with your partner. This is the exercise that my wife and I used when we were preparing to be parents — and it’s what we share with our friends who are expecting.

This guide will help you:

✅ Clarify each person’s hopes, fears, and aspirations as they think about parenthood

✅ Build alignment and shared intentions

✅ Create a strong foundation of understanding, openness, and connection as you prepare for this next stage of life

How Does This Exercise Work?

Pt 1. Open Sharing

We start with reflection prompts to help each person open up about their feelings and aspirations going into parenthood. One partner shares, the other listens deeply. Then you switch.

Pt 2. Intention Setting

Once you have provided space for each person to express their feelings and needs, we move into a conversion about joint intentions and aspirations. This is the fun part where you can envision your future together.

Pt 3. Follow Through

Intentions are like a compass. They’re only helpful if you put them to use. We close the exercise with ideas for how you can bring your intentions to life and create routines to help you follow through.