Talk it out: parenting styles (part II)

It’s common for clashes to appear when raising your baby, since you both come from different homes and were subjected to different traditions and discipline methods. This is one of the reasons why parenting can easily become a tough job, your child’s future is at stake (but hey, no pressure!). The way to foresee and prevent all of these potential clashes of opinion and conflicts is using one powerful tool: communication.

Let’s take a step back and, before you plan the big family meeting and start establishing what should and shouldn’t be done, first analyze your upbringing on an individual level. What were the things that truly marked your childhood? Which attitudes do you feel helped you the most or the least? Which values were you raised with? Which values are you living with right now? All these questions will help you get a better sense of what you feel you should pass on to your children. Have your partner do the same thing.

Once both of you have established what you want for your children and how you think you can make it happen, begin to compare and find a balance bringing together different styles and making them work. Without any arrangement or cooperation, it can be hard for either of the styles to work separately. In fact, it can be very frustrating if you don’t join forces and start parenting as a team.

You don’t have to work out everything right this second, but it helps to get a clearer picture of how you will handle some important milestones. Reinforce the idea that you both hold the responsibility in your hands, you both have an equal say on how your baby should be raised and that both of you are interested in what’s best for your little one. Don’t let insignificant disagreements taint your relationship, aim for compromise and don’t sweat for the small stuff!