17 Ways a Strong Relationship Makes You a Better Parent
A happy relationship isn’t just good for you and your partner—it’s great for your kids, too. When you both get along and have a strong bond, it helps create a loving and supportive home. This kind of environment makes kids feel safe and shows them what a good relationship looks like. Here are some simple ways a strong relationship can make parenting easier and even better.
Note: The content of this article does not reflect the writer’s personal beliefs.
A Loving Environment
Your relationship with your children’s father is the foundation of your family unit. If it collapses, so will your family. While plenty of couples have successfully co-parented after a separation, nobody starts a family with the idea of getting a divorce for obvious reasons. Prioritizing your partner rather than your kids will help you keep the spark alive and decrease the chances of divorce.
Work as a Team
Nourishing your relationship with your partner makes you more likely to work as a team rather than enemies, as it prevents you from building up resentment toward each other. Working as a team is essential for parents as it provides children with stability rather than contrasting information on what they can and cannot do.
Less Entitled Kids
Prioritizing your partner over your children also leads to less entitled kids. While most of us still believe that children should always come for, this may have severe repercussions on them as they age. Spoiling your kids occasionally is okay, but make sure they know they are not the center of the world.
Sets the Right Example
Whenever our love relationship deteriorates, we inevitably set the wrong example for our kids. For instance, we may start talking behind our partner’s back in front of the children. On the other hand, maintaining a healthy relationship with our spouse means keeping respect and love alive within the family unit and setting the right example for our kids.
It Makes You a Fulfilled Parent
You will be a mom for life after giving birth to your kids. However, let’s not forget that you are also a partner. Merely focusing on your parenthood will inevitably lead to unhappiness and resentment, making you a worse parent. You are not ONLY a mother; you are ALSO a mother. Always remember this.
Encourage Independence
Putting your kids first at all times often means that your children won’t be able to operate without you around. Go on holiday with your partner and leave your kids with relatives or friends. Go out for date nights and hire a babysitter for a night. Your children need to learn how to live without you and be independent.
Right Communication
Learning how to communicate is fundamental for all types of relationships. You and your partner should set the right example for your kids, who will surely learn from your communication skillset. Prioritizing your relationships with your partners means you will be less likely to have animated arguments in front of your children, as you will probably be able to solve most conflicts constructively.
No Conflict in the House
Even though we rarely notice, children often know whether their parents are in a harmonious relationship. Hiding a fight or conflict is extremely difficult when living together; whether you like it or not, it will probably affect your kid. Putting your partner first means reducing conflict and creating a safe and healthy household for your children.
It Reduces Exhaustion
Being a parent 24/7 is exhausting. You not only deserve a break, but you need one to avoid burnout. Setting time to value your relationship with your husband and doing adult activities you enjoy will help you replenish your energies and make you a better mom.
It Makes Your Marriage Last
Research has shown that divorce can have negative consequences on children, diminishing future competence in several areas of life, including emotional well-being, future earning power, and family relationships. Putting your partner first decreases your chances of separation, indirectly benefiting your kids.
It Teaches Proper Love and Respect
So many children grow up with parents who don’t know how to love each other properly. Make sure yours are not among them. Your relationship with your partner will inevitably influence your kids’ future romantic relationships, so you want to show them what real love is. By setting the right example, you can teach your children to set personal boundaries, prioritize communication, and reach compromises.
Striving for Balance
Of course, it is always important to strive for balance. For instance, you may be getting ready for a romantic weekend getaway when you suddenly realize one of your kids has a temperature. In this case, you may decide to stay home and postpone your trip. At times, you will have to put your children first, and that’s okay.
Self-Identity
So many young parents are so overwhelmed by their new role that they forget their identity entirely. In these cases, it’s crucial to remember that you are way more than a mother. You are also a partner, a daughter, and a friend! Prioritizing your relationship with your spouse can be a great way to take a break from your role as a mother and remind yourself that this is only a part of who you are.
It Reduces Stress
Taking care of your relationship with your partner can really help keep stress levels down for both of you. When you make each other a priority, it brings a sense of security and support that eases the pressure of parenting. With less stress, your home becomes a calmer, more peaceful place, which is great for everyone, especially the kids.
Your Partner Will Be There Till The End
While your kids will likely leave the house right after college, your partner will live at your side for the rest of your life. Nourishing your relationship with him and ensuring you keep having fun throughout your time together, even when kids leave, is fundamental for a happy retirement.
It Gives You Emotional Support
When struggling with our mental health, we surely don’t expect our kids to give us support. In these cases, however, our partner can be a great source of help. By prioritizing your marriage, you will ensure that someone will take care of you in the most difficult times and that your family unit won’t be destroyed while you search for professional help.
A Sense Of Security
Imagine growing up in a household where your parents are constantly fighting, shouting at each other, and threatening to file for divorce. Kids who live with these sorts of family dynamics often feel unsafe. Growing up with parents who love and respect each other will give your kids a sense of safety and security.
More For You
Going on a trip together can be a marvelous way to prioritize your relationship with your partner. In this regard, Europe can be the ideal place. If you are traveling to Europe together, don’t forget to visit the French Riviera for at least 3 days! This romantic continent will surely help you fall in love with each other again.
This article was first published on the RB ITALIA Blog.
