Parenting: the toughest job you never trained for. The pressure we put on ourselves as parents to ‘get it right,’ whatever that means, can leave us bumping up against anxiety at every turn. But allowing our worries to intrude on our parenting can backfire. Researchers at the University of Arizona found kids of over-involved parents had poorer coping skills and a greater sense of entitlement. The good news? We’re better parents when we worry less and let go more. Here are 10 things you can drop from your list of worries.
I turned 40 earlier this year. In the months leading up to this milestone, I frequently pondered how to acknowledge it: ‘Party? Family get-together? Fancy dinner?’ The answer came to me when preparing for a family trip. While sorting the clothing, spare clothing, shoes, spare shoes, accessories, toiletries, medication, toys, en route entertainment, snacks, etc. for three kids, I declared in my inside voice, ‘This sucks! Imagine if I just had to pack for myself...’ (Imagine a flashing light bulb moment whilst hearing a resounding ‘Ahhh’ choral here.)
Whether you are a newly-minted mom, new to your community, or feeling isolated for another reason, you may wonder how to connect with other moms. Parenting in isolation without moral support is lonely and emotionally debilitating. One of the most important ways to take care of yourself (and by extension, your family) is to maintain a thriving social network that provides a healthy dose of physical, mental, and emotional support.
Becoming new parents is a joyous experience, but it can be a very stressful one as well. Even if you and your partner have countless conversations in anticipation of baby’s arrival, you may never be fully prepared and there will be bumps along the way. These bumps are normal. But according to Dr. John Gottman, how you handle them could make the difference between being a “master” couple of the transition, or a “disaster” couple.
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