Both parents play an equally important role in helping the child navigate his way through these sometimes turbulent years by nurturing the child. This helps to develop the child's identity.
Therefore, parents are partners and need to work together in providng responsible and balanced care for the child.
Below are some of the suggestions in developing this parenting partnership :-
1. Support one another
Parenthood brings with it joy & laughter. However, it is not all fun and games. Matters of discipline especially could prove to be stressful to some, and spouses need to share parenting duties. You can be a victim of anger if you are not able to manage the stress.
Taking care of the children for a long period without a break can be stressful. You can share parenting responsibilities by allowing each other to take a break.
2. Discuss Parenting Issues Regularly
Children pose different challenges to parents at different stages of life. It might be difficult for a parent to try to solve these challenges alone. If both parents can discuss these concerns and issues about the child with each other, better solutions can be found.
3. Work as One
Disciplinary measures are most effective when both parents work together.
- the explanation given to the child by both parents together will indicate to the child that the matter is of utmost importance.
- Parents should not question or criticise each other's method of discipline in front of the child as this would diminish the authority of the parent who is being criticised.
- consistency counts. If a child learns he can acquire something from one parent and not the other, he will be able to manipulate one parent against the other. This can be a cause of much disharmony in homes.
Source : Essential Parenting Tips
by Family Education Department, Ministry of Community Development and Sports
End of Part I
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