Posted by TinyTotties on July 23 2011
Being a parent is stressful and it is common to feel overwhelmed. Many parents worry that they are doing a good job or that they are teaching their children properly. Parenting anxiety and worry is common, but if you worry too much it might make it more difficult to enjoy the precious time that you have with your little ones. Here are some tips for overcoming parenting anxiety.
Be Glad That You Worry
Worrying about the job that you are doing as a parent is actually a good thing. It means that you care about your children and you want to provide the best life possible for them. Next time you worry if you are doing a good job as a parent you should remember that your worries show that you probably are.
Don’t Over Research
The Internet is filled with parenting advice and suggestions, but it is impossible to take every piece of advice and put it into practice. Determine what works best for you and your kids and don’t worry about the advice that doesn’t work for your family. Also you may want to limit your research. You don’t need to know every fact about child development or what every expert says about parenting to be a good parent. Sometimes having too much information is just as bad as not having enough.
Talk with Others
Parenting is hard and it can be easier to cope with the daily stresses if you have others that understand. Talk with other parents and share your joys, frustrations and problems. This will not only provide you with much needed support but can also provide your children with friends and playmates. Get together for a parents and kids afternoon and your children can play while you enjoy some adult company.
Take Time for Yourself
Parenting is a full time job, but you also need time for yourself. Learn to balance the demands of parenting with your other responsibilities like work, housework and personal pursuits. Make sure that you make time to have an evening out with friends every once in a while or to pursue a hobby. If you take time to refresh and relax on a regular basis you will have more to give to your children.
Parenting anxiety is common, but it can be overcome. These tips will help you to find a balance between worrying about your children and realizing that you are doing better than you think you are.
Posted by TinyTotties on July 05 2011
When you see a crazy parent screaming at their kids in the grocery store, you may start to wonder if it is wrong to yell at your kids. There is no simple answer to this question. In reality you will have to decide what works for you and your family. However, as you make your decision here are a few tips.
Ask Yourself Why Am I Yelling?
Yelling doesn’t usually serve a purpose. Often it is a result of stress, frustration or anger. If you are yelling ask yourself why. In some cases it might be important to yell. For example if your child is about to run in front of a moving car, you might need to yell to save their life. On the other hand if they are just misbehaving it might not be necessary.
Yelling Can Undermine Regular Instruction
If you yell at your children regularly they may over time become less likely to listen to you if you ask nicely, since yelling means that you are serious. Learning to communicate without yelling may make it easier to get your point across without yelling in the future.
Find Solutions If They Won’t Listen
If your children won’t listen and yelling seems to be the only option you might be forgetting other tools that you have available. You can always take away privileges or possessions to get your point across. If your children won’t listen find ways to show them that you really are serious. In some situations this might mean yelling, but usually this can be accomplished in other ways.
A Right Time and Place
If you do decide to yell at your children remember that there is an appropriate time and a place for it. Yelling at them in front of their friends or in public places can be very embarrassing and might lead to resentment and anger. Rather than embarrassing your child find a way to discipline them privately.
Stay Under Control
Staying in control of your emotions is very important as a parent. If you lose your temper and are uncontrollably yelling at your child you may not be able to make the best parenting decisions. Whether or not you decide to yell is your decision but remember that whatever you choose it is important to be in complete control of your emotions so that you don’t do anything that you will regret down the road.