Hint: It's not!
By Hillary Goldsher — Written on Nov 16, 2012
Do you find yourself arguing with your husband when your children around? Are you worried that your arguing is going to have a negative effect on them? If you find yourself saying yes, you're definitely not alone. Sometimes, we get so caught up in the heat of the moment that we don't necessarily notice our surroundings or what we're actually doing (or saying, in the case). But that just proves that knowing how to use effective communication to solve arguments can make the difference between a happy family and one that is filled with tension.
In this video, psychologist Dr. Hillary Goldsher pretty much explains why the short answer to the question of whether or not it's okay to argue in front of the kids is no. She says that "It's not helpful to expose children to adult material. They don't have a context for it, [so] it becomes a source of worry and concern rather than being an opportunity to teach them something." So, what do you do when you do fight in front of your children? You have to "Be very direct. Go to your children and say, 'I know you saw or heard mommy and daddy fight, and I want to let you know that it's normal for mommy's and daddy's to fight.'" It's important to ask them how they felt about the situation and "reassure them that everything's okay [by saying that] mommy and daddy are okay and still love you."
Want to learn more? Check out the video above!