Few things are as humiliating as when your spouse scolds you like a parent would scold a little child.
It’s demeaning when your boss criticizes you in an unkind way, but it’s crushing when this sort of treatment comes from the person you love and cherish.
Of course, conflict is part of any relationship. At times, it may even escalate into a full blown angry argument. But a consistent parent-child dynamic in a marriage is unhealthy and destructive. Instead of nurturing mutual respect and understanding, it creates an imbalance in power that causes frustration, resentment, low self-esteem, and ultimately destroys any marital satisfaction.
What can you do if your spouse frequently nags and scolds you like a parent?
Keep in mind that neither one of you probably created the parent-child dynamic on purpose. But there are specific factors that can lead to this problem in a romantic relationship, including personal attitudes, patterns passed on by your own parents, and even cultural expectations. *
To create an effective communication dynamic based on an adult-adult model, consider taking the following steps:
