Category

Parenting

Sep 09
Love0
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My Spouse Never Disciplines the Kids – Now I’m the Bad Guy

By Parenting One Comment

As a parent, are you always stuck being the “bad guy”? Discipline is something that requires both of you to be on the same page. If you’re out of sync on how to discipline the kids, it can be incredibly frustrating. Maybe you get stuck being the disciplinarian every time, while your spouse gets to be the “good guy.” It can start to feel like they’re always one point ahead of you. You do what’s best for the kids in the moment because you know you have to, even if it’s not pleasant. Still, you find yourself clashing with your…

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Sep 02
Love0
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Help! We Agreed Not to Have Kids, But My Spouse Changed Their Mind

By Marriage, Parenting No Comments

Choosing to be parents—or not to be—is one of the most important decisions you and your spouse will ever make. But what happens when you’ve reached a decision together… and one of you changes your mind? If you and your spouse agreed not to have kids, but they’ve had a change of heart, what should you do? Maybe you entered into your marriage with a deep conviction that you never wanted kids. You were both on the same page, and you felt fortunate to have found someone who had a similar outlook on the future. It’s rare to share that…

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Aug 27
Love0
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Our Kids Are Teens, And We’re Having A Baby. What Now?

By Parenting One Comment

So your kids are teens, but surprise! You’re having another baby. What do you do now? A surprise pregnancy can be a bit of a shock, particularly if you and your spouse expected to be empty nesters soon. It’s also a big adjustment for your kids, who are focused on their friends, extracurricular activities, dating, and planning for college. This change is likely creating some chaos inside you, your spouse, your marriage, and your family. We can imagine that this news has created a seismic shift in your world. Maybe you’re reeling internally. You’re in a situation where it’s important…

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Aug 20
Love0
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I Don’t Like My Spouse’s Parenting Style. What Can I Do?

By Parenting No Comments

What do you do when you disagree with your spouse’s approach to parenting? Most of us enter marriage with the awareness that we’ll have disagreements with each other from time to time. But we might not anticipate conflict over parenting styles. If you’re feeling conflicted about how your spouse parents your children, what can you do? Different Parenting Styles Can Be Beneficial It’s tempting to harbor hard feelings or information we don’t want our spouse to hear. We don’t want to experience the fallout, so we hold back. But when we don’t address issues that bother us, that leads to…

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Aug 13
Love0
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Help! I Need My Spouse To Parent Our Kids, Not Act Like Them

By Parenting No Comments

Does your spouse act like one of the kids? Parenting kids is a full-time job, both for you and your spouse. But if your spouse acts more like one of the kids than your parenting partner, that makes your job more challenging. Rather than presenting a united front and guiding your children together, you find yourself parenting your spouse, too. The problem is, teaching appropriate behavior to your kids means they need to see it modeled. If one of their parents doesn’t always follow basic etiquette, they’re less likely to, also. This makes social situations like family gatherings or church…

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Nov 20
Love0
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My Spouse Undermines Me In Front Of The Kids. What Do I Do?

By Marriage, Parenting One Comment

Parenting should be a team effort. But what happens when your spouse undermines you–especially in front of the kids? Raising and disciplining children are important joint responsibilities you and your spouse share. As a united front, the two of you are guiding your children toward what you hope will be a productive and successful adulthood. However, sometimes couples with kids get out of sync. Maybe your spouse has a habit of undermining you in front of your children when you’re trying to offer guidance or dole out discipline. How should you respond to that? Is it possible to get back…

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Nov 06
Love0
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Should We Stay Together for the Kids?

By Intimacy, Parenting No Comments

If you’re unhappy in your marriage, should you stay together for the kids? Marital satisfaction ebbs and flows over the course of a lifetime. It’s common for spouses to go through seasons where they don’t feel as close to one another–or might even feel like roommates. Many couples with children who experience these dry seasons find themselves wondering whether they should stay together for the kids’ sake. Are you experiencing a season of distance from one another? Do your kids feel like the only thing you have in common right now? If that sounds familiar, there’s hope. Refocus on Your…

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Jul 24
Love0
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My Spouse and I Have Children From Previous Marriages. How Do We Make It Work?

By Parenting No Comments

If you and your new spouse each have kids from previous marriages, how do you make that work? Blending a family is a gift. You’re giving both of your children the opportunity to be surrounded by love. And when you and your spouse are working together to give them a happy and peaceful life, that’s truly a blessing. Bringing two families together to create a new home is quite an undertaking. It takes time for everyone to adjust to their new normal, and sometimes that adjustment period can create challenges. In this post, we’re going to share a few important…

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Jul 17
Love0
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How to Make Space for Intimacy During the Parenting Years

By Intimacy, Parenting One Comment

Life looks different with kids than it did when you were newlyweds. When you’re raising kids, daily obligations and responsibilities can get in the way of intimacy. But that doesn’t mean you have to put intimacy on hold. There are many ways to nurture more intimacy in your marriage, even when you’re parenting. The parenting years can take a toll on you both, particularly when you’re caring for infants, toddlers, or small children. In this season, it’s especially important to focus on one another with patience, love, and understanding. Ready to learn more about cultivating more intimacy during the parenting…

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Jul 10
Love0
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Help! How Do We Prioritize Our Marriage As New Parents?

By Parenting, Time No Comments

During certain seasons of marriage, it’s more challenging to prioritize your relationship over other demands. This is especially true when you have babies or small children. When parenting requires the majority of your time, what are some ways you and your spouse can prioritize your marriage? Keep Open Communication Alive Communication is crucial in every season of marriage, and it’s especially important now. Even if you don’t have a lot of time for long conversations in this season, make as much time to communicate as you can. There’s no other way to clearly let your spouse know what you need,…

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