Parents Managing Stress
As parents, we have a lot of demands on us! We deal with family, work and the daily business of paying bills, grocery shopping, doctor and dentist appointments, chauffering children, etc. I could go on and on! All of these things pull us in different directions and stress becomes a big part of our lives.
What are some causes of stress in parents? Probably the most common one is outside pressures. We worry about money, illness, our parents’ issues, tensions at work and other everyday problems. Isolation and lack of support can lead to parental stress as well. When family or friends don’t live nearby, we may not get a break. Change is another cause. Such things as moving, divorce, death of someone close, loss of a job or arrival of a new baby are difficult adjustments for everyone to cope with. Another main cause of parental stress is the lack of parenting knowledge. We don’t get an instructional booklet when we have a baby. (How wonderful it would be if we did!) No parent has all the answers and sometimes we have unrealistic expectations of what our children are capable of doing at different developmental ages.
Now that we have looked at causes of parental stress, let’s consider some suggestions to make it manageable. One important thing to keep in mind is to be realistic. Stress will always be a part of life. Give yourself a break and accept this reality! Forgive yourself for mistakes and go on. Anticipate stressful situations. If mornings are a bad time of the day, plan ahead and do some things the night before or get up earlier to have time for yourself. Prioritize daily activities. What things on your “to-do list” absolutely have to be done today? Can you let other things go until tomorrow? Another great suggestion for handling stress is to keep yourself healthy. Take time to get exercise and eat a well-balanced diet. Try this for peace at bedtime: At the end of the day, think of three good things that happened. Let that be the last thing you do as you drift off to sleep.
Managing stress is a lifelong struggle for all of us! Unfortunately we can’t control when we get stressed, but we can learn ways to cope to make both our own and our children’s lives more balanced and productive.
Jill Phillips
Parent Educator