Do you find you’re disagreeing with your partner about how to parent? Do you feel like you’re doing most of the parenting and your partner has checked out? Do these conversations sound familiar?
- “Stop winding up the kids before bed… they’ll never fall asleep!”
- “You ‘baby’ the kids, stop being so over protective – let them fall over and they’ll learn.”
- “You only want to have fun with the kids, what about homework and helping around the house … that’s all left to me!”
- “Oh it’s just a little bump on the head – stop fussing!”
- “You’re never around – these kids only have one real parent… Me!”
I remember when I first brought Cameron home, I admit it – I was an over protective mother – even when it can to Cameron’s dad! I was constantly at my husband saying things like: “don’t hold him like that” Don’t throw him in the air – he’s just eaten”, “Don’t be so rough – he’s just a baby!” Until my generally calm, fun husband said “OK it seems I can’t do anything right, everything has to be YOUR way, so just do it yourself!” Now that made me think and of course do some research about how mothers and fathers parent – and yes you guessed it – they parent differently!
Today on the show I have Charles Areni one of the authors of a fascinating book on this topic called “The other glass ceiling: fathers stepping up and mothers letting go” Many of us are aware of the ‘glass ceiling’ in the corporate world where women come up against many barriers and don’t experience equality in the workplace. This book explores the “other glass ceiling” the one that men experience at home when women create barriers to fathers participating in raising their children. This is a fascinating and ‘hot topic’ that both mothers and fathers can relate to. Listen in and have a laugh as well as learn strategies to make lasting changes that will support a more cohesive family.
For more on Charles Areni, Stephen Holden and their book see The Other Glass Ceiling.
To learn more about Dr Rosina’s practical approach to parenting see Win Win Parenting.