Raising kids together is one of the most rewarding things a couple can experience but let’s be honest, it’s also one of the hardest. Between school runs, tantrums, teenage moods, and managing screen time, it’s easy to lose sight of the one person you started all this with: your partner.
For many couples in the UAE especially those balancing long work hours, cultural expectations, and modern parenting challenges, the strain is real. And while most people blame the usual culprits (money, in-laws, stress), parenting habits often play a hidden role in relationship tension.
Here are 7 common parenting patterns that quietly create distance in marriage and how you can start fixing them today.
1. Treating Each Other Like Co-Parents Only
It happens slowly. Your conversations shift from dreams and feelings to logistics: “Did you pay the school fees?” “Can you pick up lunchboxes?” “Did she finish her homework?”
Before you know it, you’re functioning like teammates but not partners.
Fix it: Schedule non-parenting time together. Even 20 minutes after the kids sleep to talk about your day or just sit with a cup of tea can bring emotional closeness back.
2. Disagreeing on Discipline (and Fighting in Front of the Kids)
One parent says “no,” the other says “let her.”
Or worse, you argue about it in front of the child which sends mixed messages and builds resentment between you.
Fix it: Discuss your parenting values privately. Agree on basic rules and support each other’s authority in front of your kids. A united front builds both trust and respect.
3. Using the Child as a Buffer During Conflict
Sometimes, instead of addressing problems directly, one parent pours all their attention into the child. The child becomes a buffer or worse, a silent witness to emotional tension.
Fix it: Acknowledge when this happens. Seek support if needed. Through marriage counselling in Sharjah or other online options, many couples are learning how to face issues together instead of around each other.
4. Having No Boundaries Between “Parent Time” and “Couple Time”
Your child needs you, yes but so does your relationship. Without emotional and physical boundaries, couples start to feel like roommates in a nursery.
Fix it: Protect your couple space. This could be as simple as one meal a week without phones or kids, or a rule to not talk about school past 9 PM.
5. One Parent Feeling Like They’re Doing It All
This is a major source of tension. If one parent (usually the mother) feels she’s carrying the emotional and physical burden of childcare, burnout turns into bitterness.
Fix it: Share the invisible load, homework reminders, doctor appointments, meal planning. A quick daily “what’s on your plate today?” chat can keep things balanced and fair.
6. Ignoring Each Other’s Parenting Stress
Parents often stay so focused on the child’s behaviour that they forget to ask: How are you coping with this?
Fix it: Instead of only discussing the child’s needs, ask your partner how they feel. Parenting counselling through marriage therapy services can also help couples learn how to support each other, not just the child.
7. Assuming Things Will “Get Better Once the Kids Grow Up”
It’s easy to delay real conversations. But emotional disconnection only deepens over time. Many couples find themselves strangers after 15 years of parenting.
Fix it: Don’t wait. Start small. Get curious about each other again. And if communication feels too stuck, a few therapy sessions can help you reset before it’s too late.
Final Thoughts
Parenting is a full-time job, but your marriage still matters. In fact, it’s the foundation your child learns from how love sounds, how respect feels, and how healthy adults relate.
If you’re noticing more stress than support in your relationship lately, you’re not alone. Many couples across the UAE are facing the same challenges, and many are finding relief through therapy.
At PsychiCare, we’ve supported thousands of couples through parenthood transitions, emotional burnout, and communication breakdowns. With 500+ online reviews and culturally attuned therapists, you can access help that fits your life, without leaving your home.
Because your child deserves two parents who aren’t just doing well individually, but who still like and understand each other too.
