In this candid and very funny conversation, Steph is joined by couples coach and Be a Happier Parent founder Alex Trippier to ask why so many loving couples end up having the same arguments once children arrive. Alex is honest about his own marriage. He thought being good with kids made him a good dad, and he couldn’t understand why it was never enough. Steph and Alex unpick what was really going on for both of them, and why neither side is the villain.
They talk about the invisible work of anticipating children’s needs, why dads can be so dismissive of discomfort, and what Alex calls the Mr Miyagi fallacy. They look at how intensive mothering and social media have raised the bar for mums, and why the “nag paradox” leaves women managing everything and then criticised for it. Then there’s the messy room study, which shows why feeling judged isn’t all in your head, and the role shame and defensiveness play when one partner says “this isn’t working.” Alex also shares why a better life sits on the other side of change for men, and offers a theory on why men start random DIY jobs at the worst possible moment.
Whether you’re resentful, exhausted, a dad who wants to do better, or just curious why the same row keeps happening, this one will leave you feeling understood and hopeful.
Alex Trippier is a writer, speaker, podcast host, husband and father. He is an emerging voice on parenting and the father. He is an emerging voice on parenting and the role of men in family life, with a regular column in The I newspaper. He is a popular couples coach with a thriving online Skool community.
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