In this week’s podcast, I’m excited to welcome licensed counselors and co-parenting experts Kyle and Sara Wester. We explore the complex dynamics of intentional co-parenting, especially when two parents bring different temperaments, backgrounds, and parenting styles to the table.
🧠 In This Episode, Discover:
Embracing Differences in Parenting:
Kyle and Sara share their personal journey of navigating their different approaches to parenting, from growing up in distinct family environments to managing their unique personalities in co-parenting. Learn how they found strength in those differences rather than seeing them as roadblocks. 💡
Strength-Based Parenting:
Discover how each parent’s unique strengths can contribute to a stronger parenting team. We discuss how Kyle’s ability to bring playfulness and Sara’s calm nurturing complement one another, benefiting their kids. This dynamic offers an important lesson: parenting isn't about being perfect—it’s about working together and leveraging what each person brings to the table. 💪
Repair and Connection:
Parenting is full of mistakes, and repair is one of the most important skills parents can develop. Kyle and Sara share their real-life experience of repairing after conflict during a family trip to Disneyland and how it led to a powerful moment of connection with their kids. ❤️
Co-Parenting Communication Strategies:
We dive into how open, vulnerable communication between partners can create a safer environment for dialogue and collaboration. Kyle and Sara share how years of intentional conversations helped them understand their different temperaments and work as a team instead of trying to change each other.
💡 Key Takeaways for Parents:
➡️ Leverage Your Strengths: Don’t feel pressured to be a different kind of parent—lean into your natural strengths and trust that your partner can bring something valuable too. Embrace that your parenting styles will be different, and that’s okay!
➡️ Intentional Repair: When conflicts arise, focus on repair and making those moments opportunities for deeper connection with your kids and partner. This builds emotional safety and trust within the family.
➡️ Co-Parent as a Team: Use each partner’s unique approach to address different parenting challenges. From roughhousing to gentle nurture, tag-teaming can help balance your kids’ emotional needs and bring greater harmony to the family dynamic.
➡️ Role Modeling Self-Compassion & Communication: Just as we talked about self-compassion for teens in last week’s episode, it’s equally vital for parents. Show up with kindness, offer yourself grace when mistakes happen, and model effective communication with your partner.
Whether you're parenting under the same roof or from two different homes, this episode is packed with practical strategies to help you navigate co-parenting with intentionality and love. ❤️
Want to dive deeper into co-parenting with intention?
I’m excited to share the Intentional Parenting Summit—a FREE 5-day event from October 7-11, 2024. This summit, featuring 20+ experts, is packed with practical tools to help you prioritize self-care, build stronger connections, and create a peaceful, organized home. Don’t miss out—register for free today: HERE and start transforming your parenting journey!
To learn more about Kyle & Sara Wester:
https://www.artofraisinghumans.com/
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30. Strength-Based Peaceful Co-Parenting