One not-so-easy trick to becoming a better parent is to be honest with your parenting partner about your emotional needs. It’s not easy, because admitting to having needs can be scary, even if you really trust your partner. But if you can screw your courage to the sticking post and say, “Hey, I need you to say ‘Please’ to me,” or whatever, there’s a better chance that this need will be met.
Once you and your parenting partner establish this honest admission of emotional needs, you’ll find that it’s far easier to be a solid parenting team. Also, your kids will see your cohesion and it will inspire them, making your job easier. They’ll see that you and your partner trust each other, thus they will, most likely, learn to increase their own trust levels.
Again, it can be scaring, baring your soul to someone who has the power to cause you serious emotional hurt. But I argue that it’s a path to happiness in the home. I could be wrong, your mileage may vary.
by Stu Mark
[tags]kids, children, parents, parenting, husband, wife, partner, communicating, communicate, communication, emotion, needs, emotional honesty, relationships, connection[/tags]
Photo graciously provided by Fort Photo, through a Creative Commons license, some rights reserved
3 responses so far ↓
Ashi // Jan 21, 2008 at 4:20 am
hi StuMark,
you are right, to be a good parent you have to be honest not to you spouse but also to your kid.
Good Parenting blogs on various parenting issues. Please read it and share your views.
thanks,
Amy // Jan 21, 2008 at 5:37 am
Great post!
nan // Jan 21, 2008 at 8:16 am
Hey! I just blogged about spousal communications today! Must be in the air. You’re right Stu. Kids pick up on little things between their parents, and often think it’s all about them. That’s bad. If parents can communicate, kids will too, and everyone feels better.
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