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Parenthood and maintaining a healthy relationship are ambitious endeavors. Being fully aware, you armed yourself with all the latest books, articles, podcasts, and resources, committed to being present and strong for your family. Yet, despite embracing every piece of advice and strategy in your search for reassurance, there are times you find yourself wondering why the harmony, connection, and closeness you envisioned seem out of reach. If this rings true, let me tell you: it’s not you! It’s what they didn’t tell you. The parenting guidance and strategies we read online lack depth. They hardly ever address the transition into parenthood and the profound impact this has on our identity, partnerships, and ability to show up as the parent we wish to be for our children. But guess what? We’re about to turn that around. Hi there, I’m Markella Kaplani. A clinical-counseling psychologist, a parenthood and relationship Coach, a matrescence coach and facilitator, a former special educator, and a parent myself. In my 15+ years in counseling and coaching, I know this to be true: once a parent is truly supported, not only through being given techniques to overcome parenting challenges, but on a personal and relational level, then the entire family can thrive. So, welcome to the Parenthood and Relationship Podcast! Here, we learn to grow individually, normalizing and validating the processes of matrescence and patrescence (i.e. struggling with identity, mom guilt, dad guilt, postpartum rage, work-life balance, etc). We also grow together by unraveling how parenthood affects marriage and what stands in the way of following the actionable parenting strategies that we know are helpful. So, if you’re feeling ready, let me hold your hand while we tackle intriguing, yet difficult topics, with compassion and curiosity. Interested to know more? - Reach out via email at info@markellakaplani.com with your questions, and - Visit www.markellakaplani.com to access FREE resources and check out ways to work with me personally. Let’s do this! --- 🔎 Is Parenthood Making or Breaking Your Relationship? FIND OUT NOW! https://www.markellakaplani.com/couplesquiz 🖥 Reconcile the ’old’ identity with the ’new’ Grab your FREE Matrescence Mini-Course https://www.markellakaplani.com/videoseries 👥 Join our Circle: www.facebook.com/groups/parenthoodandrelationship/ 🤝 Would you like a more personalized touch? I can offer Parenthood and Relationship Coaching. info@markellakaplani.com www.markellakaplani.com Book an introductory session to explore our chemistry and whether I am the right fit for you: http://tidycal.com/markellakaplani/intro-session
Episodes
Monday Dec 01, 2025
Monday Dec 01, 2025
When a baby arrives, two births happen at once: a child AND two brand-new parents.
Yet somewhere inside the chaos of sleep deprivation, emotional overload, invisible labor, and identity shifts, couples often look at each other and quietly wonder:
What happened to us?
In this deeply honest conversation with fatherhood mentor Jason Seeman, we explore the profound but rarely-discussed experience of patrescence, the identity shift men go through when they become fathers.
While mothers are often flooded with support, societal narratives, and conversations around matrescence, fathers are handed a baby, a role, and a silent expectation to “figure it out.”
And when they struggle?
Most don’t say a word.
Drawing from Jason’s work supporting fathers, we dive into the emotional terrain beneath the surface: the fatherhood identity shift, the retreat response so many women misinterpret as indifference, and the invisible fatherhood overwhelm that can quietly erode connection.
This episode isn’t about blame. It’s about understanding the psychological, emotional, and relational forces at play so couples can begin reconnecting as parents, not as adversaries.
You’ll hear why so many relationships after baby fall into cycles of misunderstanding… why couples after kids misread each other’s intentions… and why even a loving, well-meaning partner can feel like they’re drifting away.
But most importantly, you’ll learn what brings them back.
Jason shares clear, compassionate, practical tools that help both partners feel seen, supported, and respected in the massive parenthood identity changes they’re navigating.
This is an episode for mothers who feel alone in the emotional labor.
It’s for fathers who carry quiet shame about not “doing it right.”
And it’s for couples who know they’re meant to be a team, but feel like they’re speaking two different emotional languages.
Today we explore:
- Why men retreat emotionally during new fatherhood and what they’re really feeling underneath
- How women can support without over-functioning (and without becoming the “parent” of their partner)
- Why emotional labor becomes so unbalanced and how to rebalance it
- A powerful relational insight: the birth of the parent is also the death of the previous self… and both partners must grieve and grow.
This episode will challenge you, validate you, and, hopefully, bring you closer.
🎧 Tune in!
👇
For 1 insight, 1 exclusive tool, and one 3-minute reset,
Get on The Sunday Reconnect
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ABOUT JASON SEEMAN
Jason Seeman is a fatherhood mentor and the founder of Raising Fathers, an organization dedicated to supporting men through the emotional, psychological, and relational transition into fatherhood. Through courses, men’s circles, and 1:1 mentoring, Jason helps fathers move from overwhelm and isolation into grounded, connected, emotionally engaged parenting.
Drawing on his experience with The Man Cave and the Rites of Passage Institute, Jason brings a rare blend of empathy, depth, and practical wisdom to modern fatherhood, offering men the tools, community, and guidance they often never received.
Connect with Jason:
🌐 Website: https://www.raising-fathers.com
📸 Instagram: @raising_fathers
🎧 Podcast / Events / Courses: Available on his website
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Full Transcript HERE.
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Want to take our relationship to the next level?
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👉 Link to my Newsletter
👉 Join the Reconnect with Your Partner Challenge
📩 Get in touch with me (Instagram @markella.kaplani; website; e-mail: info@markellakaplani.com)
🎧 Listen, share, and leave a review!
Your support means the world!
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Markella Kaplani, M.A.
Clinical-Counseling Psychologist
Parenthood & Relationship Coach
www.markellakaplani.com
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