Mrs. G and her husband's Struggles with Parenting and Relationship Behaviors
Mrs. G and her husband are struggling with a number of parenting and relationship behaviors, some of which are helpful to the family and some that need to be modified. The cultural variations between the two families are the first component of the family dynamics. Since Mrs. G is Nigerian and her husband is American, the cultural differences are bound to show up.
She, for example, is hesitant to see an American doctor because she feels she should care for herself, as is the practice in her community. Furthermore, when her husband expresses an interest in participating in the caring process, she adheres to her traditional values that men do not take on such responsibilities. The cultural aspect of their interaction process is detrimental to the relationship and may strain their ability to parent.
In addition, both Mrs. G and her husband got married with children, with Mrs. G having a 2-year-old child and her husband having 6 and 12 years old children from prior marriages respectively. This means they are both used to different parenting skills; hence, having a baby together would see them both trying to implement what they know from previous parenting roles. This may strain their ability to parent the newborn.
In addition, Mrs. G finds the idea of toddlers challenging. As such, the thought of her husband moving in with his two children would make the family excessively large considering that Mrs. G is pregnant, has two newborns, and is only twenty years old.
On the other hand, the strength of their relationship is based on the respect that Mrs. G has for her husband. Respect is a fundamental aspect of the family dynamics between the two, and Mrs. G appreciates the efforts her husband undertakes to enhance her wellbeing. In relation to informational resources, it is important that the family hires the services of a counsellor, who would be responsible for instilling positive patterns of interaction to ensure that the two become good parents for the five children, and that they interact positively despite their cultural differences.
Post-Partum Depression
Mrs. G exhibits symptoms of post-partum depression from the first childbirth, where she experiences high blood pressure and spotting. This can be attributed to the level of stress or anxiety that she was experiencing, which are both symptoms of post-partum depression (Freerksen, Brooks, & Siddiqui, 2015). In her second childbirth, the symptoms are magnified. After giving birth, she felt more tired, as from her first childbirth. She became lethargic and tired as months passed by, meaning that she was being overwhelmed by the responsibility of taking care of two toddlers.
She even admitted that the idea of toddlers was challenging. In addition, the fact that she had a "small supply of milk" was a clear indication that she was indeed stressed, and not on her optimal levels of operation. The best possible course for action would be to seek the help of a counsellor. It is evident that Mrs. G's mental state was compromised by so much thoughts about taking care of children, considering that she was a young parent. In addition, she was overwhelmed by the idea of taking care of two children, and being pregnant again, which was the main stressor. In addition, Mrs. G ought to let her husband be part of the parenting process, which would translate to parenting being a shared responsibility between the husband and wife.
Positive Parenting
Communication
The best possible means to positive parenting lies in effective communication. Mr. and Mrs. G need to practice communicating effectively to ensure that there are no conflicts (Lionetti, Pastore, & Barone, 2015). It is important to understand that Mrs. G is most vulnerable to post-partum depression. As such, Mr. G ought to communicate with her in a manner that would avoid misunderstandings and conflicts.
Parenting Roles
In addition, the two need to share parenting roles. Mrs. G should understand that both a man and a woman have a stake at parenting, and should allow her husband to partake in such an activity. This means that they should map out who should do what in regard to taking care of the newborns. Sharing parental roles means that cases of post-partum depression would not occur (Thompson, & Walker, 2004). In addition, sharing parental roles means that Mrs. G would not be overwhelmed by the presence of two toddlers, and the fact that she is expectant.
Counselling
The importance of counselling in any relationship cannot be over-emphasized (Tamaki, 2008). Counselling is a fundamental aspect of positive parenting as it enables the couple to achieve professional advice in cases where communication fails to resolve a conflict. It is important to note that Mr. and Mrs. G should seek counselling as the last resort. This means that they should value effective communication and positive interactions to strengthen their relationship and that of the children.
References
Freerksen, S., Brooks, W., & Siddiqui, S. (2015). Post-Partum Depression: Diagnosis, Screening, and Treatment. Mededportal Publications.
Lionetti, F., Pastore, M., & Barone, L. (2015). Parenting Stress: The Roles of Attachment States of Mind and Parenting Alliance in the Context of Adoption. Parenting, 15(2), 75-91.
Tamaki, A. (2008). Effectiveness of home visits by mental health nurses for Japanese women with post-partum depression. International Journal Of Mental Health Nursing, 17(6), 419-427.
Thompson, S., & Walker, A. (2004). Satisfaction with Parenting: A Comparison Between Adolescent Mothers and Fathers. Sex Roles, 50(9/10), 677-687.
