Parenting is often a simple matter of playing good cop bad cop. It’s pretty hard to play it with yourself. There’s a reason why it’s a stereotype. It’s a useful strategy. And really, both cops are good cops. It just helps to have two complimentary approaches.
In reality the goals of both cops are the same. They’re partners. Knowing how to play off one another helps them navigate different people and different situations and figure out what works and find the balance that gets things where they need to go. It creates a dynamic strategy that adapts and is alive instead of being merely formulaic.
Of course you can go too far with either, becoming ineffective. And it’s easy to convince yourself that you don’t have any need for the other cop. But you’re always stronger and more effective when you’re working together, in collaboration, not contradiction or antagonism.
Making Nobody Happy 