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After winning the US women’s soccer team World Cup twice and getting married right before the pandemic, Ashlyn Harris and Ali Krieger have just barely graduated from the “two under 2” club with 2-year-old daughter Sloane and their 8-month-old son Ocean.
Despite the lack of sleep, Harris tells POPSUGAR being parents to two has been amazing. “We are so happy as a family. We’re so grateful for our two kids and what they’ve brought to our lives. But we’re living in a state of exhaustion for sure.” Krieger adds, “It’s going by so quick and it’s like, I want to pause time a little bit.”
“Clearly we’re not sleeping as much as we would like, but that means we just have to make up for it in other ways, like putting the right things in our body.”
The two still carve out time together to enjoy being a couple. “We try once a week to go to lunch by ourselves and explore around our town that we live in the off-season,” Krieger says. “We try not to talk about the kids! We have to make sure that we’re good and we’re still strong as a team in order for our household to be in a good place.” But the weekends are for family, Krieger says. “That’s really critical for us. Whether it be a Saturday or Sunday, that’s our time as a family to connect.”
The couple also knows the importance of nourishing themselves as individuals. As professional athletes and new moms, “Clearly we’re not sleeping as much as we would like, but that means we just have to make up for it in other ways,” Harris says, like “putting the right things in our body.” And the two rely on communication to make sure they’re each getting what they need.
“I think what’s so beautiful about Ali and I’s relationship is we’re very OK with being vulnerable,” Harris says. “When I hit my max, I am not scared to tell her that and just say, I’m really struggling and I’m on fumes. I have no sleep and soccer’s hard and all these things.” Resetting may look like needing an hour alone or a night off from doing feeding and diaper duty. They also build alone time into each day; Harris, for instance, practices cold water therapy every morning. “We’re really good at sharing that type of responsibility and understanding,” Harris says.
The couple gave us an inside look at their must-have products that they simply can’t live without — the things that they rely on to make them better parents, stronger athletes, and happier human beings. From the perfect cup of coffee to specialized skin care treatment for playing soccer all day in the sun, check out their go-tos.