….wrote no one ever!

If you fell for that title then you are not a parent yet or you have extremely well-behaved kids. And let’s face it, the second scenario is not even a reality. Wouldn’t it be fantastic if someone came by and handed you a manual to follow and pass the parenting exam with flying colours? If only it were that simple. And if you are a parent, we are sure you came with the intention of having a good laugh at the person who professes to have got parenting right! You bet! But what if that person (who has supposedly got parenting right) is too close for comfort? Read ‘Your Spouse’? We decided to take a light-hearted look at some of the most common parenting issues that couples spar over and how we think you can deal with them!

Who’s turn is it to manage the kids over the weekend?

It is the mom’s turn to let her hair down (literally) and take a break and for the dad to unwind before a ‘hectic’ work week and therefore the big question - who will manage the kids? You know what mommies and daddies, the kids don’t need you to ‘mind’ them all the time. So let them laze around a bit, watch some TV, read some, get their knees bruised a bit and for a change - let them mind themselves. It will do you both a whole world of good!

Why can’t I find anything in its place anymore?

The kids are already late for school and the spouse too can’t seem to find her/his sock and suddenly the sleepy environment in the home gets charged with a seemingly simple statement: “Why can’t I find anything in its place anymore?” In that one statement, you have unwittingly stirred a beehive. Do you mean to say that your spouse is the reason you cannot find stuff in the house? That s/he is expected to clean up after everyone in the house including the kids? Word of advice: If you can’t find a matching pair of socks, just wear two different ones to work - it is the in thing these days. Trust us on this, you do not want to rouse the queen bee.     

Why don’t you stay at home/go to work like ‘XYZ’?

Uh uh. Did you get up on the wrong side of the bed today? Or have you not had a run-in with the boss these past few days? Whatever your reason was before you unwittingly uttered this statement, you better UNDO it and soon. Need we say more?  

We should let the kid “deal” with the situation

Imagine this. Your child comes home crying about a bully at school. All you want to do right now is to give that bully a piece of your mind. And the spouse, who has not been part of the proceedings, calmly offers you advice like a consultant. Don’t you want to scream! We hear you! But hey, maybe the consultant is right just this instance? Punch a doll instead or take up kickboxing maybe?

Spouse’s day off doesn’t automatically mean ‘No Rules Day’

Sorry to break the bubble fellas but parenting doesn’t come with a holiday. And so, before you decide to let the kids watch a little bit more TV, or eat an extra bar of chocolate more, you better take your better half into confidence. After all who wants to be assigned to a day of doing dishes and folding laundry?

S/he’s just like you.

Now, that is a loaded statement, ladies and gentlemen. And somehow the spouses have perfected the timing on this. Just when you think you are ready to tear your hair (or the kids’) over something, the spouse chooses to make a smart alec comment. And about how remarkably similar they find the kid and you in this situation, no less. Word of advice to the smart alecs: That ain’t smart. We hoped you had a laugh or two while reading this piece! Tell us about common parenting issues that you and your spouse argue about all the time and we may just have a funny solution to it! It may also interest you to read - Confessions Of An Exhausted Mom A Letter To My Pregnant Self & Other Perfectionist Moms To Be Key To Successful Parenting: Unconditional Love I Choose To Be An Authoritative Mom