Top 10 things parents disagree on
How to discipline your children, giving in to tantrums and one of you saying yes to a child when the other just said no are amongst the top things parents are most likely to disagree about, research has revealed.
The study commissioned by Care.com found the average parent will argue with their other half eight times a month about something to do with bringing up their children, and the topic to most likely cause one of these rows is how to discipline their child.
With the results revealing that 51 per cent of parents are willing to compromise, 38 per cent of respondents said that Mum was most likely to have the last word when it came down to it.
Liz Fraser, Modern Family Expert for Care.com, said: “It’s perhaps not surprising that at top of the list on what parents disagree on most was how to discipline a child. Everyone will have their own thoughts on what is the right or wrong way to bring up their children. Nobody said parenting was easy. But certainly, TALKING about the things you disagree on, and trying to reach some kind of workable, peace-keeping compromise, will really make things a lot easier”.
Other disagreements between parents were found to be one not following through on a threat of punishment and one parent being too strict or shouting. While more than three quarters of parents admit to disagreeing or rowing with each other over the upbringing of their child.
With almost 100 per cent of parents agreeing that it’s just part of bringing up children.
Following closely behind how to discipline your child/ren was how much to spend on kids for birthdays or Christmas and how to reward children for good behaviour or work.
Other little arguments that can crop up between mum and dad were said to be caused by how much TV and films they should watch as well as how much food they should eat at mealtimes.
More than half of parents believe the reasons behind their disagreements were because they were brought up differently themselves, while four in ten said it was possibly because they find different things more important than others.
Liz Fraser from Care.com says “Don’t sweat every battle. Let some stuff go. But stick to the things you really believe in, and try to find a way to work together on them, not apart.”
Despite nine in ten parents generally trying to put on a united front in front of their children when they’re having a disagreement two thirds believe their children pick up on the fact they’ve had a difference of opinion on something.
The study also revealed that parents do however have a helping hand from someone in the background to help out if they need it and it’s usually a mum or step-mum, followed by dad or step-dad, and these family members may still have a say and influence some decisions that couples make.
Liz Fraser from Care.com added: “It’s good to see that a lot of mums and dads have support from grandparents every once in a while, but of course not everyone has this luxury. Services like Care.com that provide a non-judgmental and supportive care solution aim to help families not only find different options for carers in the local area but can also allow families to make safer, more informed hiring decisions when it comes to childcare. This means one less important thing for parents to disagree on and argue over!”
TOP 10 THINGS PARENTS ARE MOST LIKELY TO DISAGREE ON
How to discipline their child
Giving in to tantrums
One parent saying yes to a child when the other had just said no
One not following through on a threat of punishment
One parent shouting or being too strict
Whether to let a baby cry or self-settle
How much to spend on them at birthdays and Christmas
Immediately seeing to a crying baby
Letting child sleep in parents’ bed
How to reward children
