A father is often seen as the family's leader. He is responsible for the household's fundamental requirements. The mother, on the other hand, is in charge of the household's in-house functions. The father provides for the family members by working and earning a living. The mother takes care of the children, cooks meals, does their laundry, and keeps their home clean. The mother and father are not equal partners in parenting. There are times when one parent needs to be set aside for another to take over. For example, if the mother is sick, then the father would be the one to take care of the household duties while she recovers. They have very different roles in the family unit that are important for young people to understand. If there is no clear distinction between these roles, then there is a great chance that conflict will arise within the family structure. This can lead to trouble for everyone involved. Mothers and fathers should communicate with each other about what responsibilities they want to share during different parts of their child's life. Agreeing on this ahead of time will help avoid conflict later on. When parents can't agree on how to divide up responsibilities within the family structure, they may need outside help. A family counselor can help them come up with a plan that is acceptable to both parties.