On Momversation: Disagreeing With Your Partner’s Parenting

Today on Momversation we’re talking about how to deal with parenting differences between partners. Alice Bradley of Finslippy asks: What do you do when you disagree with your partner’s parenting decisions? Is it okay to disagree in front of your kids, or should you present a united front and duke it out later? Heather Armstrong of dooce, Maggie Mason of Mighty Girl, and I all weigh in with our experiences.

How do you deal with this issue in your household? Let us know in the comments, and check out the Momversation in our related forums:

4 thoughts on “On Momversation: Disagreeing With Your Partner’s Parenting

  1. My husband and I don’t have kids yet, so I feel like I’m getting a sneak preview of the next chapter of our life’s conversations!

    Heather, the ventriloquist thing is hilarious. :)

    Great job on these videos, ladies, and a very fun idea/format!

  2. this is what I like to call the ‘step away from the children’ moment with my husband. when his judgement was just so way off. i use to worry about my own mortality lest my kids would have grown up as feral animals. and he happens to be a great dad!

    seriously though, having older kids i will tell you right now, at a very early age they learn how to play you back and forth. is it ok for them to see you disagree? sure. but they will throw that the hell back at you with a vengeance. good luck with that one.

    same page and unified front is the best way to go. discuss it behind the scenes if you need to, but try not to give them that opening. if you think little ones play you, wait till you have teens!

  3. I think also that the same sex child, or maybe it’s just boys can play you as well. We have a 10 yr old son. The other day, he informed me that I was “out voted 2 to 1″ on a MX (motorcycle cross) issue. WTF? His Daddy looks at me a snickers. Needless to say, there was a behind closed door conversation that night. I’ve learned to pick and choose my battles, but may I be clear, when the Momma speaks and the foot has been firmly placed on the ground, the Big Boy and the Little Boy know it and all it takes is “That Look” you were referring to!

  4. good stuff. Dad’s should remember “happy wife, happy life” unless she’s bat crazy.

    Amy, I have had the “what if something happens to me?” discussion with a few moms. terrifying. And yes, not like they are bad dad’s, but we see stuff they don’t.

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