When you find “Mr. Right,” dating, falling in love, and getting married can seem as effortless as a stroll through the park on a perfect afternoon. After having four children, that’s at least how I remember it. Girl wins over strikingly handsome guy on dance floor. Guy woos girl with Southern charm and wit. He proposes, she says yes, and so begins their fairytale life.

As with all fairytales, plenty of life’s greatest lessons are to be learned in every chapter, and parenting is no exception. With its unexpected twists and turns, we’re navigating uncharted territory the best way we know how—as a unit. And this, my friends, is a lot more difficult than it sounds. Just because we’re united in marriage, doesn’t mean we’re one and the same when it comes to parenting styles. Heck, most of us don’t actually know how we’ll parent until we’re deep in the trenches.

I suppose I could have predicted some of our differences based on personality traits alone. My husband is cool, calm and collected, kindhearted, and pretty easygoing in nature. And, then there’s me. Unapologetically passionate, a teacher and disciplinarian by trade, and a New York Italian mamma with a short fuse, known for blowing a gasket from time to time. With such different approaches to life, finding balance in parenting styles is something we continue to work toward every day. Here’s how we do it!

couple by the fireplacefamily hugging

Agree to Disagree

Make no mistake, I like to be right. Who doesn’t? When it comes to a stalemate, there’s a saying that I always look back on—Do you want to be right? Or, do you want to be happy? While I’d prefer both, I generally try and opt for the latter.

It never feels good to fight. I love and respect my husband tremendously, and at the end of the day, we both love our kids, and we’re on the same team. So, we put our egos aside, make our family our priority, and then find something we can agree on. We want to show our children that we can compromise and support one another no matter what the obstacle may be.

couple out on date nightfamily standing outside together

There’s No “Bad Guy”

Sometimes it’s all too easy to point fingers, making the other parent appear to be the “bad guy,” but what does that actually solve? And what kind of example would that be setting for our children? Our goal is to make one another look good in front of the kids, which in turn shows our respect for one another.

If you haven’t picked up on this, kids are smart! And guess what? They like to be right, too. From an early age, if they can see that you’re not united, they’ll exploit you before you have a chance to backtrack a conversation. So, refrain from saying anything negative about your partner, and don’t allow the kids to talk badly about their other parent. When children are put in the middle of a conflict, it can be damaging for everyone involved. Avoid this at all costs!

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Family size has changed a lot over the years. Today’s modern moms average 2 kids. In the 1950s the average was 3.5 kids and in the 1700s 7-10 children was the norm.


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No Tag Teams!

Whoever starts disciplining a child should be the one who finishes—while the other parent simply shows support. In the heat of the moment, you may be tempted to jump in, but unless the situation becomes out of hand, you’ll just be undermining the other parent.

A team divided will never win. When something is going on, come together, voice your concerns upfront, and then talk about any differences privately after things have cooled down. Different parenting styles don’t mean wrong parenting styles. There are no “perfect” parents. While you may think your way is the “right” way, your partner’s approach could also work. The goal is to figure it out together!


Moms are the primary breadwinners in four out of 10 US families. You go, girl!


family standing outside togethercouple hugging by christmas tree

Celebrate Differences

Here’s the good news—parents don’t have to be clones of one another to raise well-behaved and responsible kids! Thank goodness, because the Schaffer children would be in trouble! Rather than needing to agree on everything, look at it as an opportunity for your family to embrace many different perspectives. Different parenting styles mean your kids are gaining a unique understanding from both mom and dad.

There are so many things I love about Bobby—things that make him nothing like me—and I constantly remind myself how lucky our kids are to have both of us. They don’t need two parents who are exactly the same. As long as we respect and value our uniqueness, we all win.

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couple dancing in the streetcouple standing in front of mural

Schedule Family Meetings

After we became a family of six, it somehow seemed appropriate to refer to our gatherings as “family meetings.” Hey, don’t judge! We were outnumbered by double, and willing to do whatever it took for the kids to take us more seriously. Whether it’s every Sunday night, or just the last week of the month, making it a regular occurrence can set the tone and expectation for the week ahead.

When everyone (including Mom and Dad) knows they’ll have a chance to air their grievances, it can really diffuse a situation. So the next time minor bickering or complaining begins, nip it in the bud and tell them to save it for the meeting. You’d be amazed by how well this works!


Think your birthday is special? You might share your big day with millions as an average of 4.3 babies are born each second around the world.


family posing togetherfamily together at Disney World

Keep Perspective

Parenting is tough, and just when you think you’ve figured it out, your kids get older and you’re starting all over again. It can be even more challenging when you feel like you’re not on the same page as your partner.

In those moments, remember that you both want the same thing—happy, healthy kids. Keeping perspective is so important when you’re teaming up to raise a family, so push your egos aside, take a deep breath, and try seeing things through your partner’s eyes. Chances are, many of the same traits you see in his or her parenting style are very qualities that attracted you in the first place.

Happy endings don’t happen by accident. As parents, we learn as we go, we grow as we learn, and together, we overcome. And that, right there, is when the magic happens. What are some of the ways you’re winning at team parenting? Comment below!


A 2014 study, found that fathers who helped with household chores had daughters who aspired to less traditional and higher-paying careers.


Elizabeth gilbert quotecouple walking in the street

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4 thoughts on “Finding Harmony in Different Parenting Styles”

  1. Great advice! Our kids are 31 and 28, and there are still parenting decisions to be made now and then. It can be just as difficult now to find common ground, maybe more because there is so much more to consider with adult children, starting with whether or not to get involved in some situations. Of course things are much easier when the kids are younger and the decisions and/or mistakes aren’t life altering. It’s when the problems and solutions can be a matter of life and death or mentally and physically debilitating where the marriage takes some major hits. Our son was victim of assault at 14 years old, leading to PTSD. Shortly after the assault he became very a doctor prescribed him OxyContin, which is addictive enough without being 14 and PTSD. He became an addict and those were the worst years of our family’s lives, and after my son having ten years in recovery now, the healing is not complete. What I do know is that he is a living miracle and I thank God every day. Oops…sorry for the rant. I came just to say thanks for the example you guys set, and the pics in this posting are adorable!

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