Growing Together, Not Apart, In Parenthood

Description

Becoming a parent changes everything. Your schedule, your sleep, your sense of self. And often, your relationship, too. But that's not the part we tend to talk about.On this episode of "Mind If We Talk?" host and licensed mental health counselor Sreela Roy-Greene sits down with Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson and former NFL pro Andrew East, a married couple of ten years and parents to three children. Their journey into parenthood was anything but easy. It began with an unplanned pregnancy, a miscarriage that brought grief on different timelines, and, later, a difficult postpartum experience that neither Shawn nor Andrew quite understood at the time. In this intimate conversation, Shawn and Andrew share the ways in which becoming parents has tested them— from the moment Andrew decided they needed a therapist’s help to how they've managed to keep choosing each other, even when things get really hard.Later in the show, Sreela is joined by licensed therapist Sonni Williams from BetterHelp. Together, they explore what couples underestimate most about having a baby, how to recognize the signs of postpartum mood disorders, and a 3 a.m. exercise every couple should try before the baby arrives.If you're navigating the transition into parenthood, recovering from pregnancy loss, or just feeling like you and your partner have become ships in the night, this episode is for you.00:00 Becoming Parents Changes Everything00:47 Welcome Back to Mind If We Talk?02:29 Shawn & Andrew on Marriage, Family, and Commitment05:30 The Fear of an Unplanned Pregnancy09:00 Navigating Miscarriage and Grief Together14:45 How Parenthood Changed Their Communication18:26 Postpartum Depression and Feeling Misunderstood23:57 Why Therapy Became Essential to Their Marriage29:32 Expert Perspective: Pregnancy, Parenthood & Relationship Stress37:07 Understanding Postpartum Depression and Anxiety39:05 Recognizing Signs Your Partner May Need Help46:36 Protecting Connection and Scheduling Joy in Marriage52:54 Preparing Emotionally for Parenthood55:06 Final Refl