Dad needs to show an incredible amount of respect and humor and friendship toward his mate so the kids underst... — Tim Allen

Dad needs to show an incredible amount of respect and humor and friendship toward his mate so the kids understand their parents are sexy, they're fun, they do things together, they're best friends. Kids learn by example. If I respect Mom, they're going to respect Mom.

Author: Tim Allen

Insight: There's something quietly radical about treating your partner like someone you actually like to spend time with—especially when kids are watching. We often separate "parenting mode" from "being a couple," as if showing affection or having fun together is somehow less important than enforcing rules. But kids absorb the relationship temperature constantly. They notice whether their parents seem bored with each other or genuinely interested, whether conversations are logistics-only or actually playful. The real insight here isn't about performance. It's that respect and friendship between partners is one of the most underrated gifts you can give children. Kids don't need perfect parents—they need to see what a functional, genuinely warm relationship looks like. They learn what to expect from their own future relationships by watching yours. When they see you make each other laugh, admit you were wrong, choose each other's company—that becomes their template for what love actually involves. The slightly uncomfortable part? This applies even when you're co-parenting with someone you've moved on from, or parenting solo. The standard isn't about being married. It's about showing your kids that respect, humor, and real friendship between people are worth prioritizing. That's the model that actually sticks.