This Is Us Reset: Reconnecting After Summer - Episode 82

Summer is wonderful—but it can also leave couples feeling more like roommates managing logistics than partners in love. This episode is all about pressing reset as the season shifts. With simple tools like the This Is Us Check-In, a Fall Mantra, and even an Intimacy Ladder to bring back closeness, you’ll discover ways to realign, rebalance, and reconnect with your partner.

Think of it as your “Relationship New Year.” It’s time to move from summer chaos to fall connection.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why summer tends to throw couples off track
• How to use the This Is Us Check-In to realign your relationship in just 60 minutes
• Ways to create a short and powerful Fall Mantra together
• How to rebalance calendars, responsibilities, and the mental load
• Practical tips for communication that lowers tension, not raises it
• A playful take on the Intimacy Ladder—foreplay in steps to bring closeness back

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Remember, as parents, do your best—there are no perfect parents, but countless ways to be loving and supportive. Signing off from the For Love of Parenting podcast. Thanks for listening. Until next time.

Transcript

Title: This Is Us Reset: Reconnecting After Summer - Episode 82

Intro Summary

Does the end of summer leave you and your partner feeling off balance? You’re not alone. In this episode of For the Love of Parenting, I share how to bring back rhythm, clarity, and closeness with your partner. I know you want that spark back before the cold weather kicks in - So, come on.

Podcast 

Hello for my love of parenting parents. Welcome back! So, you've done the summer cookouts, went to the pool, sent them off to camp and then ended with a family vacation. 

Summer was fun… but maybe it also left you and your partner feeling more like co-managers than teammates. Today, we’ll talk about how to reset, realign, and get back on the same page as you head into fall.

Ahh, summer! Beautiful—long evenings, family trips, and backyard cookouts—but let’s be real. Summer can also throw our routines, our calendars, and sometimes even our connection with our partner completely off track. By September, it’s not unusual to feel less like lovers and more like exhausted roommates instead of partners of a very busy household.

So why does summer feel so destabilizing?

First, our rhythms get disrupted. Sleep schedules, mealtimes, workouts—all of it shifts. And when rhythms wobble, patience wobbles too.

Second, decision overload it sets in. Trips, visitors, childcare arrangements, “do we go to this cookout or not?”—all those tiny choices add up.

 Third, with summer comes the hidden responsibility overload. One partner might quietly become the travel agent, snack packer, and sunscreen enforcer.

And finally, identity whiplash. In the summer we still juggle so many roles—parent, partner, coworker, playtime director, chauffeur or whatever your child's extra needs are during the summer—that it’s easy to lose sight of ourselves and each other.

If this sounds familiar, let me tell you. You didn’t fail. You just shifted into summer mode—that’s all. And now, you need to rest.

Some couples may not even realize this has even happened to your relationship - you just feel the disconnect.

So you might be wondering… how do we get back on track? How do we hit reset?

Well, meet up by running what I like to call a This Is Us Check-In. Set aside 60 minutes for a sip and sync, no phones, just you two and maybe your favorite drink/beverage.

Follow this simple checklist to guide your conversation. And with all the stress and extra responsibilities of summer life, why not make it a fun game instead of a chore? Who needs more stress or tension anyway?

1. Warm start. Each person shares one favorite summer moment and one thing that felt hard.
2. Name your fall values. What do you want this season to reflect? Maybe it’s steadiness, health, or more time together.
3. List the big rocks. Work, school logistics, finances, health goals—get it all out.
4. Name the friction points. Not to solve them yet, just to clarify.
5. Pick three resets. Choose three changes that will matter most over the next four weeks.
6. End with gratitude. Appreciate each other and plan one fun thing for the week.

Think of this as a business meeting with heart—clarity and kindness, not blame or cross-exams.

Once you’ve had your This is Us check in, create a short statement— sort of like a Fall reset mantra. This one sentence should capture what matters most to you as a couple.

Examples might be:

• “We protect sleep, plan money, and date each other.”
• Or, “We rest on weeknights and say yes only to what we truly enjoy.”

Write it down, stick it on the fridge, and let it guide your decisions for the next 90 days.

Next up—your calendars. This is where assumptions turn into agreements. Put everything on the table: work hours, school drop-offs, sports practices, meal responsibilities. Assign owners, not just doers.

And don’t forget the mental load—the remembering, the planning, the invisible stuff. Write down all those hidden tasks: teacher emails, pet meds, gift buying. Then group them by domain—home, school, finances—and assign ownership. That way, it’s clear who’s carrying what.

A little structure here goes a long way toward easing resentment.

What about summer spending - it can get out of hand, so a quick money reset helps. Look back at where you overspent, then look ahead at upcoming expenses. Try a 30-day rule: for purchases over a certain amount, pause for 24–48 hours and decide together.

On communication, aim for two habits:

• A Sunday sync—a 15-minute glance at the week ahead.
• A midweek check-in to rebalance if something went off course.

And don’t underestimate the power of quick repair. “If the conversation starts to feel tense, try saying: I want us on the same team. Can we rewind and try again?

Ok, now here’s the fun part—bring back the “us.” After a summer of logistics, it’s easy to feel like business partners instead of lovers.

So try this:

• Schedule a weekly micro-date—even a 60-minute walk counts.
• Add a monthly novelty—something new, like a class, a recipe, or even a board game tournament.

And use what I like to call the intimacy ladder. It’s basically foreplay in stages. Instead of skipping straight to the finish line, you climb step by step—start with a longer kiss, add some playful touches, maybe whisper something only your partner knows, and let it build. Each step on the ladder brings you closer, until the connection naturally deepens. I think you get the picture!

Try this Reset as a 7-day sprint. Yup, that’s it. Seven days, small steps, big difference.

• And if your stumped on how to start the conversation off- here are a few scripts you can use:
• I miss feeling like teammates. Can we schedule a reset this week?
• I noticed things got a little tense. I’m sorry. Can we start again?
• I’m craving more of us. How about we take the next step on our intimacy ladder tonight?

And before I wrap it up - here are some tiny habits that work wonders:

• A 30-second appreciation before bed.
• A doorway hug for six seconds.
• Kiss before you go to bed 

Ok, so that's it! And here’s the takeaway: Summer scrambled your systems. Fall is your chance to reset. With a little mindfulness— a checklist, a reset mantra, and a new daily rhythm—you can feel like a couple again.

Thanks for joining me on *For the Love of Parenting podcast. I hope you found this episode helpful and if so, share it with your partner or a friend. And don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Until next time - take care 

Tags:  #CouplesReset, #FallConnection, #RelationshipGoals, #MarriageMatters, #LoveReset, #ParentingPodcast, #ConnectionTips, #RelationshipCheckIn, #IntimacyLadder, #SeasonalReset