Building Stronger Families for Happier, Healthier Children – Supporting New Parents to Reconnect and Raise Confident Children

K. Mariam Jafri S.
May 28
3 min read

When Maya and Aarav held their baby for the first time, they knew this was it. The most beautiful, life-changing moment they had ever experienced. They also knew their world was about to change in ways they couldn’t fully imagine. They couldn’t wait to begin this new chapter together, as parents.

But as the weeks turned into months, reality set in. Sleepless nights, regular visits to the paediatrician, working longer hours to boost their savings, and a messy house became the new normal. Evenings became checklists. Conversations turned into complaints, and the intimacy between them gradually started to fade.

The joy of becoming parents, of moving abroad to build a better life, even the love they had for each other, all of it started to feel like a distant memory. They adored their baby, but in the rollercoaster of parenthood, they started to feel invisible in their own relationship.

Unfortunately, their case isn't unique. Stories like Maya and Aarav’s echo in homes across Australia. Parenthood is beautiful, but it’s also overwhelming.

**A couple holding their newborn baby, sharing a joyous moment.**

The Hidden Stressors of New Parenthood

According to the Australian Institute of Family Studies, women often go from spending just 2 hours a week on caregiving to over 50 hours after childbirth. Without open conversations or shared responsibilities, resentment builds and emotional distance can grow.

The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia highlights that persistent parental conflict can significantly increase a child’s risk of emotional, behavioural, and social difficulties.

It’s not about never arguing. It’s about how we argue, how we reconnect, and how we model emotional health. Because children are always watching. They learn how to love, cope, and connect by watching us.

**A couple being together, sharing a quiet moment.**

The Village May Look Different , But It Still Matters

We’ve all heard it: It takes a village to raise a child. But for families far from home and familiar support systems, that village can feel out of reach.

In Australia, this village for a migrant family may come in the form of a parent group, a playdate community, or a workshop that helps couples reconnect while keeping the well-being of their child at the centre of it all.

Because no matter how different our lives look, some things are universal: every parent wants to raise a child who is happy, healthy, emotionally secure and successful.

Stronger Families: Built Around What Children Need Most

Stronger Families, created by healthAbility, is an award-winning, evidence-based program designed to give parents practical tools to work as a team; nurturing confident, emotionally secure children in homes that feel safe, calm, and connected.

Stronger families raise confident children who are emotionally resilient and ready to face life’s challenges. Here’s What Stronger Families Helps You Build:

Emotional Intelligence: Help your child understand and express their emotions in healthy ways.
Resilience : Teach your child how to bounce back from life’s challenges with empathy and strength.
A Supportive Home Environment : Create routines and communication habits that lower stress and strengthen bonds.
A Confident, Well-Rounded Child : Use practical, research-backed strategies to support emotional and social development.
A Modern-Day Village : Connect with other parents who understand what you’re going through and grow together.

Stronger Us Means a Stronger Them

No family is perfect. And we can’t avoid every disagreement or hard day.But when we actively invest in our relationship , in our foundation - we create something powerful for our children: emotional safety.

That’s why Maya and Aarav joined Stronger Families. In giving everything to their baby, they realised they’d almost forgotten what mattered most - their shared values, their connection and their priorities as a family.