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What are your top tips for making family life work ?

255 replies

carriemumsnet · 30/06/2008 15:45

While we wait with bated breath for the results of our work/life balance survey we thought we'd tap you for your top tips on how you make family life work, in terms of work/life balance, family time, sharing responsibilities for children/ house /money etc

How do you make the parenting partnership (great phrase eh? ) work in your house?

OP posts:
hairtwiddler · 01/07/2008 17:38

We're a team. If one member of the team is operating under par, the other works harder to make up for that.
Prioritise - time together is more important than weeding the garden!
Find opportunities for fun and laughter.

deanychip · 30/06/2008 21:20

we both do our share.

we take it in turns to do almost everything form lie ins to nights out to bathing child to bed time books.

We guard our time off and plan what we are going to do with it and stick to that.

We work hard, and plan well.

Respect is huge.
priorities are the same
outlook on life is very similar

WideWebWitch · 30/06/2008 21:12

We are both adults and we both pull our weight. If ever he doesn't, I tell him so and he puts it right and vice versa.
We have a cleaner
We shop online
We try not to organise too much at the weekend so we can all do tihngs together
We go away to hotels without children sometimes
We do kind things for each other (eg he made me muffins one Sunday, I ironed his shirts, which I never normally do)
We back each other up

won't go on any more or will be accused of smuggery and whilst we're v hpapy I haven't got all the asnwers, we have rubbish times like anyone else.

redpanda · 30/06/2008 15:59

Chuck it all in the pot and see how you cope (so hard to plan in advance)
Make sure you have some consistency in there (rules and discipline! )
Mix in a whole load of patience (with both partner and kids)
Add a great big dollop of humour (that's what gets you through)

Share out equally (e.g. changing nappies, taking turns on bathtime, one owns school admin and one owns organising/supporting swimming lessons)

suzywong · 30/06/2008 15:47

think before you nag

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