Riley Gaines and her husband, Louis Barker, are settling into life as first-time parents—and they’re already talking openly about the kind of example they want to set for their daughter.
The couple welcomed baby Margot in September and sat down together on Gaines’ OutKick podcast, “Gaines for Girls,” to share not just their joy, but also the vision they have for parenting. Their conversation quickly turned from diapers and sleepless nights to the deeper values they hope to instill in their family.
For Barker, one of the biggest priorities is showing Margot that her mom and dad are united. “For us, I’ve always wanted to set the example of what a relationship should look like,” he explained. “I want Margot and however many kids we have to look at us and be like, ‘Oh yeah, mommy and daddy together and then we’re all here, we’re hanging out.’ I want them to see that me and Riley are on a team, that we’re on the same page. It’s not mommy versus daddy. It’s mom and dad together. We are one.”
He added that consistency is key: “The one thing I would hate more than anything is for Margot to run to Riley and say, ‘Hey can I do this.’ She says no and she comes to me and I say yes. That inconsistency is something that would drive me nuts.”
Gaines said she fully agreed. She believes too many kids grow up without that kind of stability and clear example. “It makes sense, and I think to set that example is an example that kids are lacking No. 1,” she said. “We see it all the time—kids who are lacking that direction or example in the home. And we see it in the world, in our culture, or society or in school or whatever it is. And I think to be that for our kids I think is really important.”
The couple also opened up about how they want their relationship to model love and respect. Barker admitted they aren’t perfect: “Do we bicker about stuff? Absolutely,” he said with a laugh. But he also drew a line in the sand when it comes to how they handle conflict. “One thing I got big on when we got married is that no matter how irritated we are with each other, whatever has happened, we’re not going to be that couple that sleep in separate rooms. There’s so many parents that do that now and the kids think it’s normal and that’s not a healthy relationship.”
For him, it’s about breaking cycles. “There’s going to be no generational trauma in our household,” he declared. Instead, they want their daughter to see what a loving, faithful marriage looks like—one that provides security and joy.
While the new parents also shared details about the delivery, the hospital stay, and Margot’s first week at home, their reflections went beyond the early baby stage. Gaines and Barker are focused on laying a foundation of teamwork, consistency, and love—values that will shape their parenting journey for years to come.
Their openness offers encouragement for couples everywhere: parenting isn’t just about raising kids, it’s about modeling a Christ-centered marriage where unity and love are front and center.