Navigating parenting with a skeptical partner is a real challenge, but there are ways to find common ground. Learn to respond compassionately when kids express strong emotions like 'I hate you.' Balancing discipline with empathy is crucial. The discussion also tackles the stresses parents face, particularly around the holidays, and offers creative solutions like hosting on Airbnb to alleviate financial pressure while enriching family experiences.
Skeptical partners in parenting can offer valuable insights, encouraging open discussions that enhance communication and understanding between co-parents.
Effective parenting is a gradual process that focuses on long-term developmental skills rather than immediate behavioral changes in children.
Deep dives
Embracing Skepticism as Curiosity
Skeptical partners in parenting can actually provide valuable perspectives, as skepticism often stems from a deep care for children's futures. Rather than viewing their doubts as an obstacle, it's useful to see skepticism as a form of curiosity that encourages exploration of different approaches. This mindset shift can foster healthier communication between partners, allowing for a collaborative discussion on parenting strategies. Recognizing that both partners care for their children can create a supportive atmosphere where concerns can be voiced and addressed together.
Communication Over Uniformity
It is essential for partners to communicate effectively rather than strive for uniform beliefs about parenting methods. Understanding that different parenting styles can coexist harmoniously is crucial; what really matters is establishing a common framework to discuss children's behavior and development. Facilitating joint discussions or attending workshops together helps in creating a shared language, enabling parents to navigate their differing viewpoints constructively. This approach emphasizes that varied parenting styles can actually be beneficial, offering children diverse methods of support and guidance.
Understanding the Concept of 'Working'
Evaluating whether a parenting approach is effective goes beyond immediate visible changes in children's behavior; it entails recognizing the underlying developmental processes. Just as swimming skills develop below the surface before becoming visible, parenting methods may take time to show their effectiveness. It is important to focus on the skills being developed in children, rather than only the immediate outcomes of behavior. Reflecting on the parenting process and believing in its long-term benefits can provide reassurance, helping parents remain committed, even when immediate results are not evident.
When your kid yells “I hate you” or acts out in some other way, it’s hard enough to deal with that situation, but when you and your partner disagree on how to respond, it makes it that much harder. Parenting with a partner who is skeptical or disagrees with your approach is hard and tiring. It's also common. This week, Dr. Becky addresses the challenges of parenting with a skeptical partner and gives tools for how co-parents can learn to speak the same language.
Get the Good Inside App by Dr. Becky: https://bit.ly/3W9sFp6 Follow Dr. Becky on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drbeckyatgoodinside Sign up for our weekly email, Good Insider: https://www.goodinside.com/newsletter Order Dr. Becky's book, Good Inside: A Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want to Be, at goodinside.com/book or wherever you order your books. For a full transcript of the episode, go to goodinside.com/podcast To listen to Dr. Becky's TED Talk on repair visit https://www.ted.com/talks/becky_kennedy_the_single_most_important_parenting_strategy
Today’s episode is brought to you by Airbnb: Let's be honest: parenting is expensive, especially around the holidays. And Dr. Becky hears all the time from parents that there are so many things they want to do that just don't fit into their budget, and it can feel kind of powerless. And then, once the holidays are over, they still end up having spent more than they usually do and feel stressed and behind. So now that the holidays are behind us, she wants to share an idea for a way to make some extra income in 2025…Hosting on Airbnb. Being an Airbnb host means that you are providing another family with an amazing experience— because I know you've created your home with a family in mind—and it's a great way to earn some extra money for all the different things you want to do this year. Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much at Airbnb dot com slash host.
Today’s episode is brought to you by Mommy's Bliss: The season of germs is upon us. That’s why Dr. Becky loves Mommy’s Bliss: they offer the first Clean Label Project Certified line of pain and fever medicine for Infants and Kids, as well as safe and gentle organic cough syrups. Whether your kid is struggling with a cough, a fever, or the flu, Mommy’s Bliss has a product that isn’t just safe for them–it’s also made for them. That means free of dyes, artificial flavors and corn syrups. Because when your kid isn’t feeling well, you want something that’s going to give you peace of mind and bring them relief so your family can get back to your daily routine! You can find Mommy’s Bliss at major drugstores and retailers where you shop for your family’s health.
Learn more about the upcoming Effective Alternatives to Punishments workshop: https://bit.ly/4g2tKGD
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