When Two Become Three: Nurturing Your Marriage After Baby Arrives [Paperback]

Mark E. Crawford (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0800731913 | ISBN-13: 978-0800731915 | Publication Date: June 1, 2007

Raising children is one of life's greatest joys, but the impact of introducing a child into a marriage is staggering. Many couples don't realize the relational stress that parenting can cause. Most parents experience decreased intimacy and increased conflict. They may even find themselves asking, "Am I still in love?" When Two Become Three helps couples recognize the inevitable challenges to their relationship that occur during the childrearing years. It provides practical advice designed to help couples nurture their marital relationship in order to ensure it remains strong during this phase of life and beyond.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Bringing home baby doesn't mean kicking out romance. Children put a strain on even the strongest marriages. In When Two Become Three, husband, father, and clinical psychologist Dr. Mark E. Crawford offers you insight and advice on dealing with the effects a child can have on your marriage. With wit and a highly readable style, Dr. Crawford shows you how to handle conflicts, how to work together as new parents, and how to draw closer to one another as you bond with your little one. He explores how men and women react in different ways when baby arrives. And he shows you how to make your marriage a priority despite your new responsibilities. Children will change your marriage, but they should--and can--change it for the better. "Dr. Crawford walks you through this family transition time with ease and grace, giving practical and useful help."--Linda S. Mintle, PhD, PureMedia Group, Inc. "I can say unreservedly that When Two Become Three should go on the 'must read' list for every couple expecting a baby."--Freda V. Crews, PhD, licensed professional counselor; host, Time for Hope TV talk show "When Two Become Three is an invaluable tool for new parents who want to give their children and their spouses the greatest gift of all: the gift of a happy, healthy marriage."--Rallie McAllister, MD, physician, author, and nationally syndicated columnist for Your Health Mark E. Crawford, PhD, is a clinical psychologist, team psychologist for the Atlanta Hawks NBA team, and cofounder of Lyles and Crawford Clinical Consulting, PC. He is the author of The Obsessive-Compulsive Trap and a contributor to The Complete Parenting Book and Caring for People God's Way. Mark and his wife, Dana, have two sons and live in Georgia.

About the Author

Mark E. Crawford, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist and cofounder of Lyles and Crawford Clinical Consulting, P.C. He is the author of The Obsessive-Compulsive Trap and a contributor to The Complete Parenting Book and Caring for People God's Way. Mark and his wife, Dana, have two sons and live in Georgia.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Revell (June 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0800731913
• ISBN-13: 978-0800731915
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #845,843 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars WHEN TWO BECOME THREE by Mark E. Crawford, March 22, 2010

By 

thepaxdomini "The Book Review" (Tulsa, OK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: When Two Become Three: Nurturing Your Marriage After Baby Arrives (Paperback)

When Two Become Three: Nurturing Your Marriage After Baby Arrives is a 2007 book on marriage and parenting by clinical psychologist Mark E. Crawford. The book's primary stated purpose is to show parents how to keep their marriage a high priority, and to strengthen it, after the birth of the first child.

This is more of a marriage book than a parenting book, although it is inextricably both. Crawford begins by discussing communication and conflict resolution, then moves on to cover the pressure of the tremendous responsibility of parenting, and the new division of household labor. Much of this, however, is written in such a way (inadvertently, of course) as to create agitation and anxiety in new parents rather than immediately ease concerns.

Crawford also offers specific advice to mothers and fathers. But he only considers the traditional working-man, stay-at-home mom and two-income structures. Given Crawford's emphasis on gender-specific parental attributes, I was profoundly disappointed to see that he has nothing to say on the subject of stay-at-home dads - come on, man, join the twenty-first century.

The final third of When Two Become Three covers sex after the baby comes, establishing a parenting philosophy, and dealing with the complex issues of stepfamilies.

Crawford's writing style is chatty and readable. The back of the book calls him witty, but that's being generous. Crawford himself is pretty obviously a Christian, although this is by no means a Christian book, and his references to Christianity tend to be oblique.

When Two Become Three is not a long book (192 pages), but the reader may frequently find himself skimming. Crawford simply goes into a great deal more detail than many readers will care to get into - these will be, by and large, the readers who have largely non-dysfunctional marriages. This is not to say any of this information isn't good - it's just problem-solving tips for problems many of us don't have.

But the fundamental truths here are solid: being a married couple first and parents second, parenting and administering the household as a team, maintaining mutual respect and intimacy, and so forth.

Maintaining a marriage after children is important (and, given the statistics on divorce in the United States, often neglected), and the basics covered in When Two Become Three are certainly worthwhile. For parents-to-be, this book is worth a perusal.

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Read, March 14, 2009

By 

J Collins "JC" (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: When Two Become Three: Nurturing Your Marriage After Baby Arrives (Paperback)

Great book for first time parents. I didn't have my husband read it but it gave myself good insight to what dad's go through too and how to be sensitive to dad too! Great book all around for mommy too!