Peninsula Kids Winter 2019

Valuing Your

By Deanne Atkinson

otherhood. Fatherhood. Parenthood. A journey of the M unknown where anything is possible. Fatigue is probable.

Changes will come at a pace you didn’t know possible and as you navigate yourself through each stage of your child’s growth you might get a little distracted and the cost can come as a surprise. One thing that might pop up and rear its head is challenges in your relationship and having very different ideas from each other when it comes to parenting.

For some it can come as a shock. Your partner doesn’t have the same beliefs and strategies in their approach with the kids. You start to disagree; you start to feel angry, frustrated or pull away from your partner especially if you both have a tendency to be set in your ways. The littlest issue can cause a rift let alone the big issues which need to be addressed when it comes to raising children.

“He doesn’t support me.”

“She undermines me.”

“She tries to control me like I’m the child.”

“He overpowers me when it comes to the kids.” I have heard many statements similar to these. Whatever the issue it has a negative effect on the relationship and, sadly, home life is no longer a happy place.

Let’s break a few things down. We come together with our own issues, beliefs, habits, personalities and tendencies. With both partners carrying their own baggage this can play out in our parenting. What we believe is right or wrong, what values we have or don’t have; often this is where partners can clash when making decisions about their children.

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Peninsula Kids – Winter 2019