And when parents are becoming grandparents for the first time, the intensity is generally heightened.
Complex shifts are underway as children become parents and parents become grandparents.
Your relationship with each other has developed over years and decadessolidifying your roles as parent and child.
They are used to being the parent with all that that involves, including decision-making rights over parenting styles.
Identity transformation happens on all fronts.
This is big, and it’s often disorienting while the shift happens and new roles settle into place.
It is normal for this reorientation to cause friction, upset, and conflict.
This change in decision-making power extends to parenting styles.
Sometimes, it isn’t a matter of style but one of memory!
No parenting is perfect since perfection is an unattainable illusion.
Turning toward the relationship helps develop a stronger partnership between parents in the co-parenting process.
Make supporting your partner a higher priority than pleasing your parents or other well-meaning advice-givers.
Your relationship will benefit from actions that place your partner and your relationship closer to the center of importance.
What’s more, you have the right to screw up parenting in your own unique way.
In fact,you will screw it up in your own way.
You get to make mistakes just like your parents did.
Everyone makes mistakes in parenting.
With extended family, practice building a bridge of shared positive intention whenever possible.
