some tips to better parent with your valentine

With Valentine’s Day approaching, the latest “In the Arena” podcast is all about:

1) How to keep your spouse as your #1.

and

2) Some tips and thoughts about how to parent with some extra power alongside that Valentine of yours.

I think you’re going to like it.

I’m curious your thoughts on this: we talk a little about “equal parenting” on that episode.

And I don’t know that I believe in “equal” parenting.

Because life just isn’t equal. Are you with me or no?

If we’re always worried about who does what and when and who’s doing more work, we’re never going to be satisfied.

I mean, sure, in the beginning with babies things may look a little like this:

(Ha! My sisters and I talk about that painting a little as we discuss.)

But there are different stages and different seasons and I think the bottom line is that it all comes down to lots of communication.

Regularly and vulnerably.

Set a time each week to talk it through. How you’re feeling. What you could use help with.

Make sure your spouse voices those same sentiments from his point of view.

And work hard together to figure it out.

But I’m getting ahead of myself, because let’s go back to the most important thing:

Make sure that spouse of yours knows THEY are your number one (that’s the main focus of the podcast, I hope).

That “number one” position is easy to forget when you add kids to the mix.

But that spouse of yours was the first one at your side and they will be there last, so let’s put the work in to show them a little extra love this Valentine’s Day.

Lots of tips and ideas for that in the podcast.

So see what you think by taking a listen to Parenting with your Valentine.