We here at Bored Panda have a soft spot for funny tweets about parenting. When you're done scrolling through this month's gems, fire up our earlier lists on 121 Hilarious Parenting Tweets That Every Parent Can Relate To, 152 Hilarious Tweets From Exasperated Parents Trying To Feed Their Kids At Mealtime, and, of course, 45 Times Parents Hilariously Expressed Their Struggles On Twitter.
Looking at these tweets, you might notice that different parents have different parenting skills when it comes to raising their kids. That's perfectly fine. However, it gets more complicated when you and your partner don't see eye-to-eye on some of these approaches.
Psychotherapist Marni Feuerman said that ideally, couples should discuss their parenting strategies before they decide to have children together. However, if you haven't, it's not too late to have these talks afterward, too. And that's the key to it all. Talking.
"Share your parenting philosophies with each other. Talk about how you were parented and what you would do the same as, or differently than, your own parents," Feuerman wrote for VeryWell Family. "Ask your partner about topics like what reasonable discipline looks like, what sounds like an appropriate childhood bedtime, and whether children should get an allowance."
The psychotherapist also said that you're setting yourself up for failure if your house rules are vague. Phrases like, "Be good or you'll be in trouble," often lead to miscommunication, misunderstandings and ultimately, fighting.
"You and your partner should agree on specific rules and write them down," Feuerman added. "Show the rules to your kids and ask if they have any questions. Be open to their ideas and suggestions, and make changes if they are appropriate. It is easier to enforce rules that everyone can agree on."
After everything is in place, it is critical to stick together as a team and be consistent. Your family needs to work as one. However, if you disagree on something, don't express it in front of the kids. "Do not interfere when you disagree with a parenting decision. Your kids will quickly take note of where the disharmony lies, and they will use this to their advantage. Don't let this happen."
Every parent makes mistakes. Be flexible, allow yourself and your partner second chances, and simply support each other.
