Teamwork is very important when raising kids together with your spouse or significant other.
But, even the best, most healthiest relationships can struggle with this.
I strongly feel their is always room for improvement on the team work front. Kids are hard work!
Are you wanting to make your spouse feel more loved, special, and supported in raising kids?
The truth is, no matter how good your team work is, I promise parents can always use more back up from their other half.
Take these 30 tips for bettering your team work while raising kids. Just implementing a few of these simple tips will have you on a path to bettering your relationship and building a stronger family bond.
Bedtime can be a struggle for any parent. It can easily be shared or broken up between kids. One of you can take story time and the other a song. Work out some way it becomes a team effort.
Occasional parent meetings are great! Make sure you are on the same page with your spouse about everything relating to your kids.
Agreeing on rules is important. Having a set of rules you both agree on makes a more structured environment for your kids and less room for family conflict.
Kids get sick, make crazy messes, and have occasional bathroom issues. Don’t be afraid to get dirty! Chances are your spouse needs your support during these times more than ever.
One of the best ways you can support your spouse is by getting in the kitchen. Learn how to cook a simple meal or two. This may come in handy when they are under the weather and need your help with the dinner duties.
Learn the ins and outs of the morning routine. Who needs what? Can you help with breakfast? Can you help get things ready the night before?
Is your partner a morning person? I know my husband sure isn’t. But, how can you help here? Maybe a simple wake-up call, breakfast in bed, or a strong cup of coffee .Coffee is usually just the thing my husband needs first thing in the morning.
MAX by MAXWELL HOUSE is perfect because it has that extra boost of caffeine.* They make it in K-cups, which makes it easy for me to support my husband during our on the go mornings.
This week I went to stock up on more K-Cups at Walmart! So easy to find MAX by MAXWELL HOUSE in the coffee aisle.
It’s inevitable, your spouse is going to get sick, have a loved one pass away, or they may just be dealing with added pressure at work.
During these times it’s so important that we learn to be supportive. We need to accept that as a part of the team we need to take on more of the dirty work of raising the kids. Focusing on supporting our spouse through these times is key, so they can get back to being equal teammates.
You may be a great cook and know nothing about keeping up with the garden or doing the laundry. But, there is always room for improvement. Ask your spouse how you can help keeping up with the daily duties that come with raising kids. Can you learn how to do a load of laundry or cook a meal?
Kids can definitely try to turn parents against each other when being disciplined. This is where being on board with the rules comes in handy and supporting each other through tough punishment. Believe me it’s easier if you have a teammate to back you up on time-outs and consequences.
Sit down and plan basic routines together. That way you both know how your kids day will basically be structured. If you develop a bedtime, homework, dinner, etc. routine together it will make it easier to support each other as teammates in your routines.
Parenting is tough work, make sure your spouse gets occasional “me” time to work on a hobby or relax. This is such an easy way to offer support and can be worked into your family routine.
Have you ever felt overwhelmed with family grocery shopping? Lugging the kids through the grocery aisle by yourself and getting all the groceries loaded, unloaded, and put away is a lot of work.
Support your spouse by making grocery shopping a team effort. It’s so much easier to get in and out of the grocery store when I have my husband with me.
Make sure your kids know you are running things as a team. They will get the idea when they see that you have the same rules, consequences, and routines down. Working as a team will pay off as your kids know you mean business.
When your partner is sick or having a tough time, don’t be afraid to step up to the plate. Pick up the extra slack that comes with raising the kids and running your household. Let them know they have your full support.
Nothing shows commitment to teamwork more than showing you are willing to do something you hate. I know my husband hates doing laundry. So, when he does it, it makes me feel so loved and supported.
Plan out a family fun day or randomly do an act of kindness for your spouse. Taking out the trash or doing a load of dishes will again show them the team effort.
Turn daily activities into family activities. We read every day as a family, working together as a team. It’s such an enjoyable way to spend time bonding together and get part of our bedtime routine done together.
Marriage and relationships are all about sacrifice. Part of being a team mate means sometimes sacrificing our wants to be there as a team mate for our spouse. This may mean sacrificing something you want to have extra money for the kids or adjusting your workout schedule to help with the bedtime routine.
Be observant to how your spouse is feeling. If you notice they had a rough day then it’s the perfect time to step up as their team mate. Give them extra “me” time and support when they need it.
Let your spouse knows you are ready and willing to take on duties during vacations, like driving during a road trip. I’m one that loves to drive, but it sure feels nice to know my husband is willing to take the wheel when I get tired.
Making time for each other is a great way to strengthen team work. Alone time to check in on each other and take a much needed break from parenting.
Never stop communicating with your spouse about your kids and needs. It’s easier for your team mate to support you if they clearly know what’s going on and what you need from them.
Nobody is perfect! You are bound to have many parenting fails, but it will be a lot easier with a team mate that loves you through it all.
Make time to say something kind to your spouse. Praise their parenting victories and team effort and chances are they will do the same.
Raising a family is full of ups and downs. Keeping a good sense of humor through it all definitely helps. Your spouse will feel better knowing that you don’t think it’s the end of the world.
Much like keeping a sense of humor, staying positive is a must when raising kids. Let your spouse see that you are approaching each challenge with a positive and happy attitude. I bet their mood will be lightened too.
It’s so easy to get frustrated with your spouse during hard times. Be careful to pick your battles. Supporting your team mate might mean giving yourself time to cool off in a frustrating situation.
Keep things fun and light! Don’t forget you are raising kids and part of that is having fun. Work as a team by planning fun family activities, outings, and vacations together.
The thing about working as a team is never leaving your team mate behind. Support each other through those hard days and pull each other through. This might involve lending a shoulder to cry on or a listening ear.
Parenting is a team effort for sure. But, there are so many ways we can be more supportive and bring team work to the forefront.
Just reading through this list I can see at least 4 areas where I can improve.
How about you? Where can you strengthen your team work? In what ways does team work help you get through raising your kids?
I’d love to hear from you in the comments below!
*Disclaimer- This product contains an average of 205mg caffeine per serving compared to an average of 112mg caffeine of Arabica coffee
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