Parenting styles can break a relationship. For one, people from different backgrounds typically have differing ideas about parenting. If these differences are not extreme, they can still work it out. However, if they are vastly incomparable, parenting styles can cause trouble in a relationship. Navigating different parenting styles in a relationship can be tricky. In this article, you will learn what to do when you don’t agree with your partner’s parenting styles.
Implications of Different Parenting Styles
The average person typically parents the way he was raised. Therefore, people will often have diverse views on how to raise children. These differences can threaten a relationship’s health, especially if one or both partners have kids before entering that relationship. One partner may feel their partner is mistreating their children.
In contrast, another person may think that the other person is coddling their children or preventing them from being proper parents, which can cause resentment and conflict. Therefore, learning how to navigate such situations will help preserve the relationship. Here’s what to do when you disagree with your partner’s parenting styles.
Get To Know Them
Sometimes, we judge based on what we see without knowledge of the context of the situation. This may prevent us from making the right call ignorantly. Therefore, if you observe your partner parenting differently from what you are used to or would like, take time to get to know them before judging.
You should also observe the situation before objecting to their style. This will help you approach the matter appropriately. Knowing your partner will help you respect their style and signal your children to do the same. However, note that this advice does not apply to situations involving abuse.
Extend Grace
Studying your partner and acquiring adequate information will help you be more empathetic and understand their parenting styles and how their kids behave. Your partner may give their kids more screen time than you would normally allow a child, let them eat away from the dining table, watch TV while eating, speak while eating, or wear certain clothing.
Regardless of how shocked you are, extend grace to them and permit these things as long as they are not harmful. You may find that these habits help your partner cope with raising children alone.
Communicate
If you are uncomfortable with your partner’s vastly different parenting styles, talk to them about it. Be prepared to have them reject your counsel or not be satisfied with their reasons, but you should not give up without trying. Sometimes, your partner may not know they are parenting wrongly, and if they are teachable, they will be happy to learn from you when they know you have the kids’ interests at heart.
You should also communicate with an open mind. Instead of thinking your way is best, be ready to learn from them. Also, you should never reprimand your partner in front of the kids. If you object to their parenting styles, wait until you are alone to correct them. Otherwise, you may confuse the kids or make them feel the other person hates them, which can lead to rebellion.
Walk Away
If you have given your partner time, tried and failed to understand their parenting styles, and communicated without any result, you may need to end the relationship. Some differences are irreconcilable, and staying will only end in heartache. Therefore, don’t feel guilty if you have to end the relationship. You will be doing the right thing for your children and theirs.
Parenting styles are a big deal because they involve children. Therefore, don’t be afraid to explore all available options to be on the same page. However, feel free to end the relationship if you still can’t agree on the most important things.
#Clique, what do you think about couples having different parenting styles? How will you navigate such a situation? Let us know in the comments.