TNMU #217: Parenting When Your Marriage Sucks

Parenting well is a big job. It's made even harder when your marriage isn't in a good place. What do you do if you find yourself as a dad in a marriage that sucks? How do you stay strong as a dad and deal with the difficulty of a strained relationship? That's what Mark and John get into with this episode.

Expanded Notes:
• Suggestions from a professional counselor
• Order — be clear on the roles of the family; help order the chaos
• Love — maintain connection; don't abuse the connection
• Value — ensure your kids' sense of worth and value; let them have their activities
• Hope — have something to look forward to; keep your word
• If there's nothing to build on, then you won't move forward
• Return to relationship fundamentals
• From Dr. Curt Thompson's work
• We all desire to be Seen, Safe and feel Secure
• You must do the work on yourself first and maintain your connection with your kids
• Dr. John Gottman's work
• Parents must become emotion coaches
• Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child: The Heart of Parenting
• Action steps:
• Fight for your marriage and for your family
• Continue to engage in your role as a father