The Works For Me Wednesday subject this week is Parenting Advice. While of course I have lots of advice I had to figure out the most poignant and needed piece. The most important thing is to pray but the next part is to invest in your marriage. Remember, while the world seems to revolve around you blessed little rugrats, you and your husband were a family all on your own. This means always show a unified front. And yes, if you are picking sides it is always Mom and Dad against the kids. Studies show that kids are more secure if their parents have a strong marriage. Ways to do this…

Have a daily conference time with your spouse. Mine and NerdDad’s is after he gets home and changes. Then while we put the finishing touches on dinner we talk. Kids have to entertain themselves or play in their rooms. This isn’t a time for deep relationship issues but just updating each other on the goings on in life. It doesn’t just have to be about the kids. This is often when we talk about news from our friends, who won the board game at DH’s work at lunch, or headlines in the news. Another thing is follow through on punishing kids for going behind a parents back. You know, kid asks one parent and that parent says no so they go in the other room and ask the other. Also respect your spouse and demand that your kids do too. There have been times when a child will talk back to one of us. Often the other parent will step in and make it clear it isn’t acceptable to treat their parent that way. Also, if something is important to your spouse but not you, make it important any way. This is a great way to teach your kids to respect a parent. An example, I have a friend who doesn’t mind if her kids go from project to project, leaving things out, as long as they clean up once a day. That drives her husband up the wall. So she has made it clear that the kids need to clean up after they finish each thing.

Remember your spouse is the only person you can count on in this adventure of raising kids. Also, when the kids grow up and leave (which they will someday) you are going to be all alone again so build, build, build.