By Barbara Gibson
One of the biggest challenges for dating single-parents is establishing the role a new boyfriend or girlfriend should take in regards to authority and discipline. The following guidelines should be helpful:
· If your dating partner has met and is regularly around your children, you’ve obviously reached a point that the relationship is pretty serious.
· From a child’s earliest days, it’s a parent’s job to teach them to be respectful of others. No matter how much they like or don’t like Uncle Billy or your 3rd cousin or a grumpy grampa, it is their obligation to treat that person with respect. The same goes for how your child treats your partner.
· It’s generally best to let the parent handle discipline, rules, and authority over the children. The parent’s partner can be a friend, a supportive adult, and a buddy but should avoid the role of disciplinarian.
· Once the dating partner becomes a part of the family, either by marriage or by cohabitation, then it is reasonable for the step-parent to assume greater responsibility as an authority figure. This should be negotiated and agreed upon by both adults however and not in front of the children. Rules and expectations should be articulated to the children as “the rules of the house” not “his rules” or “her rules” that can be dismissed as coming from someone “who’s not my parent anyway.”
· In general, the primary parent should always be seen as the ultimate authority
"I signed up for your amazing site and filled out your questionnaire. I am completely blown away by the questions and accuracy of the videos and results. I am a Yellow/Violet and I feel like someone reached into my soul and understood who I was for the first time ever. I've never felt so gotten in all my life."
"Pam's insight and ability to read my aura (violet, yellow, blue) and that of my future soul mate has been a great help to me as I navigate the dating world. Knowing my "love colors" gives me a deeper knowledge of not only myself but the person who matches me and it allows me to be more discerning in my choices. I now have a much more positive and relaxed outlook on attracting the man I am meant to be with. My new clarity makes me feel as if he's standing right beside me, just waiting for me to turn around and notice him." -Sara (winner of the free reading with Pam)
"Pamala is a gifted professional who magically receives insights and wisdom, which she shares with individuals from around the world. I have sought her counsel over the past several years and her advice has been incredibly accurate. I highly recommend her work and books to anyone seeking to better understand themselves and their patterns, both personally and professionally."
