My partner and I have two kids, and by all reasonable standards, I’m clearly the better parent. I’m more patient, level-headed, and always on time. I enforce bedtimes with an iron fist and strictly regulate screen time. Sure, I can be a bit intense when it comes to rules, but I’m also the fun-loving dad who gets down on the floor to wrestle or initiate a tickle fight. If we were to create a scoring system for parenting, my skills would far outshine those of my partner, and I would emerge victorious without breaking a sweat.
Interestingly, such a scoring system already exists, and I keep a mental tally of every instance where my parenting wins out over my partner’s. By my calculations, I’m absolutely crushing it. My partner, on the other hand, tends to be a bit of a softy. She’ll frequently indulge the kids with gummy worms right before dinner and allows them to watch the latest episode of their favorite show even when it’s past their bedtime. When the kids pretend to be sick on school mornings, she’s all too willing to believe them. For each of these infractions, she loses valuable points.
Yet, despite this clear evidence, my partner sometimes acts as if she’s the better parent. It’s almost comical. Just last night, she called me a “birdbrain” for not making our son’s bed the way she prefers, which involves some mysterious method of bed sheet origami that only she—and perhaps the ancient emperors of Japan—seems to understand.
Experts might claim that parenting shouldn’t be a competition, but I’m convinced they say this because they’re losing their own battles at home. Let’s be honest: parenting is a fierce contest. Both mother and father strive to raise their children in the best way possible (which often means raising them to reflect their own values). How else can we ensure that we not only pass on half of our genes but also 100% of our spirit?
For instance, while tucking our son into bed last night, my partner and I had a playful disagreement about who is more stubborn. Naturally, I insisted it was her. She, being her stubborn self, disagreed. To settle the matter, I turned to our son and asked, “Who’s more stubborn?” He hesitated, perhaps trying to avoid choosing sides, but I pressed on. “Just tell us!” I insisted.
“You are,” he said, looking straight at me.
“I told you!” my partner exclaimed as she left the room, a triumphant smile on her face.
I thanked our son with a kiss on the forehead. In that moment, he proved my point. If my partner were the better parent, our son would have pointed out her stubbornness instead. But he knew I would forgive him for his choice, aiming to keep the peace in our household.
In this grand parenting duel, it’s clear that I stand as the undefeated champion. (Let’s keep this between us, though.)
For more insights into parenting and home insemination, check out our other blog posts, like those on intracervicalinsemination.com and Make a Mom, which are valuable resources on this journey. Additionally, Cleveland Clinic’s podcast is fantastic for anyone interested in fertility and insemination topics.
Summary:
In the playful rivalry of parenting, one partner believes they have the upper hand in skills and approaches, despite the occasional debate over stubbornness and differing styles. The humor of the situation showcases the fun and challenges of raising kids, revealing that parenting can often feel like a competitive sport.