Don’t Let Parenting Derail Your Relationship: Five Things To Watch Out For

Did you know happy couples are more likely to raise happy, successful children?

In “The Role of Support Within a Family” podcast hosted by Dr. Keely Sikes, Drs. Carolyn and Phil Cowan explain how to keep your relationship strong during parenting stress. The Cowans, authors of When Partners Become Parents: The Big Life Change for Couples, share five parenting couple tips:

 Attend to each parent’s mental health. If one parent is struggling with mental health issues, it's possible—but much harder—to create a warm, loving family. Get help if you need it.

 Communicate with love and respect. Your children see everything you do. Be excellent role models and teach them how to have successful partnerships.

 Be a team and resolve your disagreements. Presenting a united front on parenting decisions is much better for your relationship and for your children.

 Discuss what you’ll bring in from your own upbringing. Before conflict occurs, discuss with your partner how to bring the treasures from your childhood into your family and leave the dysfunctional stuff in the attic.

 Build community. Don’t just rely on your partner for support. It takes a village to raise a child, and your relationship will bloom if you have a village before you need it.

The Cowans shared questions partners can ask each other to build connection:

·       What is worrying you most today?

·       If I am depressed or upset, how would you like me to react when you're talking to me about this?

·       What is the main thing you would like to carry over from our nuclear families?

·       What do you like best about how I relate to the kids?

·       Outside of our family, who can you talk to when you are stressed?

Ideally, you’ll discuss these questions when you are not in conflict with each other. By working together, you can reduce the stress on your relationship and raise happy, well-adjusted kids!

** If this got you thinking, scroll on over to the RADIO and listen to the full podcast under the SUPPORT Love Skill.**