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What Your Kids Pick Up From How You Treat Your Partner

Updated: Apr 15


Husband kisses wife on the forehead while she drinks tea, showing love and respect in an everyday relationship moment

You know those tiny moments—the ones you think no one notices? Like when you pass the remote to your partner with a simple “You pick,” or offer them a cup of tea because they’ve had a tough day. These little things? They matter more than you think. Your kids are watching, and they’re picking up on what love and respect look like in a relationship, even in the most mundane moments.



What Kids Pick Up from the Small Stuff:


  • The Last Slice of Pizza: You offer it without hesitation. Your kids clock that. It’s not just food—it’s generosity, thoughtfulness, and putting someone else first.

  • Backing Each Other Up: Your partner lays down a rule, and you echo it—no eye-rolls, no "go ask Mum instead." That’s how kids learn what unity and respect look like.

  • Doing the Boring Jobs: You take out the bins without being asked. Help clean up after dinner. No fanfare. Just shared responsibility. Your kids learn that love shows up in actions, not just words.

  • Laughing Together: That inside joke you two share? The way you still flirt across the kitchen? That’s showing your kids that connection doesn’t have to fade when life gets full.



It’s Not About Being Perfect:


You're going to stuff it up sometimes. Everyone does. You’ll forget to say thanks, snap when you’re stressed, or let a disagreement play out a bit too loudly. But it’s not about being flawless. It’s about the effort. Kids don’t need a perfect model—they need to see what respect, repair, and consistency look like.


“The best thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother.” 


How to Be a Good Husband and Role Model:


You don’t need a blueprint for being a great husband. It’s about showing your kids what a healthy relationship looks like in real time.


  1. Look Up From Your Phone: When your partner’s talking, give them your eyes, not just your ears. Presence matters. It teaches your kids that people come before screens.


  2. Say It Out Loud: “Thanks for dinner.” “You handled that like a champ.” Saying it matters. It models appreciation and respect.


  3. Be a Team, Out Loud: “Let’s do this together.” “We’ve got this.” The language of unity teaches your kids that love is a joint effort.


  4. Share the Good Stuff: Tell your kids when your partner does something great. Let them see what admiration looks like in action—not just when it’s Valentine’s Day.


You don’t need grand gestures or Instagram-worthy declarations. Your kids are learning about relationships from the way you treat your partner in the messy, ordinary, everyday moments. It's the split-second decisions—do I take the last slice or offer it up?—that quietly build their understanding of love, respect, and what it means to be in a strong partnership.



DADDING IN ACTION

Today, tell your partner one thing you appreciate about them—out loud, in front of the kids.

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