Parents keeping kids secrets from other parent

Do you think a parent should keep secrets that their kids don't want their other parent to know about?

I don't know about that, because on one hand why would they tell another kid's parents? I would NEVER done that as a kid because I would've figured they would've told my parents, if it was something I didn't want them to know, I'd tell the other kid because they could keep a secret.

Chris wrote:Do you think a parent should keep secrets that their kids don't want their other parent to know about?

I think it depends on the severity of the secret but most of the time I would say no. It’s a tough call though if the kid confided something to one parent after they made that parent promise to tell the other one. You want your children to confide in you but you don’t want to break their trust. Of course on the other hand, you probably shouldn't keep secrets from your parenting partner either. Did you have a specific example in mind, Chris?

I think if it is something minor, then not a big deal. But for a major thing, the parent being confided in should tell the child why they have to tell the other parent.

Depends on what it is. If your teenage daughter is pregnant and doesn't want you to tell her father, you pretty much can't keep that secret. So anything along those lines should be a guideline.

I'm with Red and Alan - for minor things, it's okay but for something big, the parents need to know, unless there's a good reason to keep it from them. I know I'd want someone telling me something like that about my kid, so I'd probably do the same, especially if the child's life was a stake.