Parenting Together

Week 1
Is there more? Use these 3 magic words of listening. For most people, listening is far more challenging than talking. If you do nothing else, being attentive to what your partner is saying and using these 3 magic words will make you a better listener. Try it! Source: David Steele, MA, LMFT

Week 2
Turn complaints into requests. We all bring many wants and needs to the parenting relationship and it is unrealistic to think that someone will be able to meet all of those needs. So simply make a request and focus on what you want to happen (instead of what is not happening). Now you are more likely to get what you want. Source: David Steele, MA, LMFT

Week 3
Be positive about your mate. Try to not complain about your spouse to your children. For example, don’t complain about your mate’s personality or character in front of the children.

Week 4
Kiss and make up. If you have a heated argument within hearing range of the children, (sometimes it’s unavoidable), then let them see you be affectionate when you’ve made up. This helps them to understand that your relationship is strong enough to recover from anger and misunderstandings.

Week 5
Limit your family’s outside activities so that you have two rare elements for today’s families: time to hang out as a family and time to hang out as a couple. Source: Take Back Your Marriage, Bill Doherty, Ph.D.