Parenting As A Team

Parenting as a Team

As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.

Proverbs 27:17

IS IT POSSIBLE for two parents who have very different approaches to child rearing to find a meeting of the minds? The answer is an unqualified yes. I’ve been there. In my marriage, we discovered that I tended to be the quiet, calm, “let’s talk about it” parent. My wife, Karolyn, tended to be a “take action now” kind of parent. It took us a while to realize what was happening, analyze our patterns, and admit to each other our basic tendencies.

Eventually, though, we began to concentrate on the question, What is best for our children? We found that we could work together as a team and that, in fact, we must. Our basic tendencies did not change, but we did learn to temper them. I learned how to take responsible action and to blend words and actions. Karolyn learned to think before she moved.

The well-known proverb above is often applied to friendships or accountability groups. But it applies just as well—or better—to marriage. When we recognize that our spouse has different gifts and approaches that can balance ours, we are “sharpened.” For those who have children, accepting our differences and learning how to complement each other makes for good parenting and a growing marriage.

Lord Jesus, thank you for the blessing of our children. I pray that you will help us to approach parenting as a couple. We have different approaches and strengths, and that’s okay. Please give us the wisdom to blend those approaches in the best way and to work well as a team.

Parenting