What is parenting stress?
Sometimes it seems like the demands of parenting just keep building up! It would be unrealistic to remove all stress, and sometimes a little bit of stress keeps us motivated. But when our stress levels get too high, it starts to impact on many other areas of life. There are things you can do to control and cope with everyday stress.
Why is looking after yourself important?
Taking care of yourself as a parent or carer is one of Triple P’s five principles of positive parenting. When you can find ways to lower and manage your own stress, it will be easier to deal calmly with your children. It also helps you feel more positive and that’s better for your health.
Think about what makes you feel stressed that’s within your control to change.
For example, are you trying to pack too much into each day because you’re
trying to please everyone? Is the hour after everyone comes home from school
and work the most stressful part of the day?
Read a blog related to this topic:
Evening rush hour: how does your family cope?
Here are some ideas to get you started
- You might need to make some changes to your lifestyle. Talk to your partner about ways to change your routine or share the workload.
- Call on friends and family you trust if you want some extra help. Everyone needs a little support now and then so there’s no reason to feel guilty about asking them to mind the kids or to have a coffee with you.
- Set up routines where each person knows what they need to do. This will help your evenings to run smoothly.
- Make some time for yourself to relax or do something you enjoy. Even a half-hour break each day, doing something you enjoy, can be enough to help you feel refreshed. Regular exercise and a healthy lifestyle help too.
Help your child see you taking care of yourself
You can achieve your parenting goals with the Triple P’s toolkit of parenting solutions and strategies. The Triple P – Positive Parenting Program, developed here in Australia, is now the world’s most widely researched parenting program.
With 35+ years of scientific testing and re-testing, and hundreds of clinical trials and real-world studies that prove it works for most families, it can work for you too. Learn new ways to help your child develop key life skills!