Last week I shared about my own relationship with my partner, and how it can be hard with young kids to find time to focus on the “couple relationship”… And I don’t think I am the only one!
Let’s review this with a Research & Reality lens:
RESEARCH – Well, the research is clear — the quality of adult couple relationships and positive parenting practices are connected to healthy child outcomes. So the relationship I have with my partner affects my parenting and ultimately my kids. Having a relationship that includes good communication and shared decision-making is an important aspect of raising kids together!
REALITY – The reality is; however, I find only enough energy to take care of the next thing on my to do list. Right now it is usually work, play, supper, bath, bed, and repeat. (Now don’t get me wrong, routine can be a good thing, if it comes with intention.)
But we also know this co-parent relationship looks different for every set of parents – maybe you’re dating, married, divorced, separated, in different cities, living together, or somewhere between. Maybe your reality is a challenging relationship with your child’s co-parent.
The good news is that co-parents can intentionally choose to put their kids first – and one way to do that is by working on having a relationship with their co-parent that allows you to communicate and share decision-making in a way that benefits your children!
Join me in planning to do one thing this week to invest in your co-parenting relationship. You, your co-parent, and your kids will benefit!
Mackenzie Johnson
Parent to a little one with her own quirks. Celebrator of the concept of raising kids “from scratch”. Learner and lover of the parent-child relationship. Translator of research with a dose of reality. Certified Family Life Educator.
Follow Me:
Great post
This is very timely for our household. It is easier to let that relationship slide or to put him in the bundle of people I take care of and treat him like one of the children. (Guilty!) Thank you for this focus and for all you do.
Amazing Post. Thanks for sharing this with us.
Mackenzie this resonates so much with me right now! Kids come first until they are self-sufficient, i guess it is the sacrifice we have to make as parents.