Q&A: How do we get on the same parenting page?

My partner and I cannot get on the same page about parenting.  I think my partner is just too hard on our kids.  I’m not about throwing away all of the rules, but sometimes I think it’s ok to figure out how they’re feeling or not make a big deal of things rather than come down hard.  How can we get on the same page?


Thank you so much for asking such an honest and difficult question, and a question that is asked about twice a week in my office.  I work with a lot of kids and families; in fact, more than half of my practice is made up of parents and their children.  And even though the kids and teens come in with a wide range of struggles, the number one consistent complaint I hear from parents is that they find it nearly impossible to be on the same “parenting page.”

 

It becomes a nasty cycle:  child/teen is having a particular problem and hasn’t learned how to manage in healthy and appropriate ways, so parents have to step in.  Parents don’t agree on what/how to step in, so they start arguing more.  That conflict exacerbates child/teen’s struggles so that behavior gets worse, which of course means parents have to step in again and have yet another opportunity to fight against one another.


Being on the same page just isn’t optional when it comes to healing families; it is vital.


 When I start walking alongside a family, I know that the child/teen’s struggles must be addressed and supported.  However, I also believe that my work with the child/teen will only go so far if the parents are still struggling to be a united team in regards to raising their children.  So I want to do everything I can to help parents figure out how they can be connected and aligned, for the sake of their child and the life of their family.  This just isn’t optional when it comes to healing families; it is vital.

 

Over the next few weeks, we’re going to look at various aspects that cause parents to get stuck when trying to figure out how to parent or discipline or make decisions related to their children.  To start, I encourage you to consider a few questions about your desire to get on the same “parenting page” with your partner:

 

- When do I get the most frustrated with how my partner chooses to parent our child?

 

- What concerns me the most about the parenting decisions my partner makes?

 

- How did I learn to be a parent?  How was I parented?

 

- What do I believe my role is as a parent?  What must I do to help my child grow into a healthy, thriving adult?

 

- What do I wish my partner understood about the way I choose to parent our child?

 

 Looking forward to what is to come in the next few weeks!

Alair

Come on in- how can I help?

Some different options about where we can start

Couple's Therapy

 

Learning why we feel disconnected, and creating new ways of being with each other

Individual Therapy

 

Discovering and developing what it's like to have a relationship with yourself

Family Therapy

 

Finding out why we don't get along, and figuring out how we can be a family 

Play Therapy

 

Helping kids use play to feel safe and strong, especially when bad things happen



sit and stay a while

Some thoughts I share on "Rooted + Grounded"

 

 

The New Normal | Do I Want to Go Back?

 

 "Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself." - Rumi


in the neighborhood

Some helpful resources in the nearby and virtual community

  National Child Traumatic

Stress Network

Talking with Kids + Teens When Scary

Things Happen

 

These resources offer guidance on talking with children and youth when scary things happen. This fact sheet includes information on checking in with yourself, clarifying your goal, providing information, reflecting, asking helpful questions, going slow, labeling emotions, validating, and reducing media exposure. 


 

Alair Olson, M.A.

 Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT#86504)

858.634.0302 | therapy@alairolson.com