Among the many disagreements you might have with your ex, parenting debates are among the most difficult to address. This is especially true when it comes to disciplining your kids, which is challenging enough on its own. VeryWellFamily.com offers the following tips in this case, which will ensure both you and your former spouse forge strong and healthy relationships with your children.
Don’t treat your child like a victim
While divorce is certainly rough on kids, it’s no reason to forgo good parenting altogether. When your child misbehaves, he or she should be reprimanded accordingly and in an appropriate manner. Going easy on a kid because of divorce will only create more behavioral problems down the line. If your child is exhibiting a pattern of bad behavior, consider enlisting a counselor or therapist for help.
Don’t badmouth other parenting techniques
While you might not like the decisions your ex makes when it comes to parenting, refrain from badmouthing these decisions in front of your kids. If your child claims he or she is able to do certain things at the other parent’s house that you forbid, don’t take the opportunity to call into question the other party’s parenting style. Instead, reiterate the rules in your home and insist you child follows them. If you feel your ex is dropping the ball on serious issues, address your former partner directly. Putting your child in the middle will only increase emotional strife.
Don’t rule out teamwork
For the best results, both you and your spouse must work as a cohesive unit. Discipline measures will have the greatest impact when they’re consistent, which involves both you and your ex coming to some kind of agreement. This is especially important for more significant behavioral problems that may call for the intervention of a therapist or guidance counselor. The more you and your ex are willing to work together, the better it will be for your children.
