When Parenting Styles Clash: Why It Could Be Ruining Your Marriage

When I first became a parent, I thought love and patience would make things easy. But as soon as our little one arrived, my partner and I realized something big: we had very different ideas on how to raise a child.

Now, let me be clear. I love my spouse.

But nothing prepared me for the frustration that came with parenting together. Our differences didn’t just cause tension in our parenting. They started to damage our marriage.

So, I want to share what I learned, how we navigated these challenges, and some advice to help you if you’re going through something similar.

The First Signs of Trouble: Our Parenting Styles Collide

Right after our child was born, I could already see how different our approaches were.

For me, parenting meant rules and consistency. I believed kids thrive on structure.

My partner, on the other hand, wanted to be more laid-back, encouraging our kid’s freedom and independence.

At first, these differences seemed small.

But over time, they started to create arguments — serious ones.