PARENTING ROLES

In today's world, many children have parents who both work outside the home. In addition, many families have single parents, or are "blended" families with step-parents. Due to these changes, there are no longer any distinct parental roles. More men and women share in the responsibility of parenthood. Parents working together do the best job of raising their children, whether or not they are living in the same household.

How can parents share these duties fairly? Start by making a list, dividing tasks and responsibilities. Parents may do things in different ways. Remember that a different way is not worse or better, it is just different. In fact, children can benefit from learning there are several ways to carry out something. One really important part of parenting is to agree to support each other's decisions. The parent-parent relationship is the foundation for the family. Children are very aware of the state of their parent's relationship.

Of course, if one parent is placing the child in danger, it is up to the other parent to get involved for the child's safety. If parents are having a tough time agreeing on parenting roles, it is wise to seek family counseling.

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

HIL File PARE3189.rf2 VRS# 7747 Data Version 7.0