Parent Work/Stress

Parenting can be a lot of work! It can also be a lot of stress. You can really begin to miss all of the free time you had in your life, before you had children. As a parent, you will need frequent breaks from your children so you don't begin resenting them. Luckily, there are many ways you can cope with the stress of parenthood:

• Join a parent group so you can discuss the challenges of parenting with other parents. There you will get tips to deal with these challenges.
• Join a babysitting cooperative where you can take turns with other parents for childcare.
• Mother's Morning Out and Tot Gymnastics are other groups that are good for social support.
• Join a church, synagogue, or temple, and enjoy the benefits of a membership in a new group. There you can get to know other parents with children.
• Get a babysitter so you can have alone time with your spouse or partner in the house, or make regular dates. Designate one or two nights a week as "mom and dad's night out".
• If your child attends daycare while you work, take a few minutes by yourself before picking your child up each day.
• Take advantage of on-site daycare at the gym so you can take a break and exercise at the same time.
• Seek out family or pastoral counseling to find other ways to reduce your stress.