Work and school deadlines, traffic jams and cantankerous, hungry children€¦time to care for yourself as a parent? In dreams only! But there is time, because just outside every door is outside. The next time you step out of your car take ten seconds to step out of your situation. Take 10 seconds to enjoy nature!Each Read More
Category: Stress Management
Take Ten
All parents feel stress in a variety of ways: exhaustion, fussy children, job pressures and family problems. Recognizing that you are under stress is the first step in learning how to take control. Here is a process you can use to turn your stress into positive action. © Parent Trust for Washington Children Read More
Decompressing
All parents have stress around a variety of everyday situations: exhaustion, fussy children, housework left undone, teen back talk, etc. When stressed, parents can become more sensitive to the usual noises and activities around the house, becoming less patient and more irritable. It’s difficult to concentrate and you get stuck on negative thoughts. Recognizing that Read More
The 80 Percent Rule
Are you feeling like a bad parent because there are lots of times when your child ignores you and does not do what they are told to do? Step #1: Remember the 80% Rule! Research has proven that in the best of circumstances children do what you tell them to about 80% of the time. Read More
No Perfect Parents
Quote for the day: Today, professionals are preoccupied with the “dysfunctional family.” But to some extent all families are dysfunctional. No family is perfect! We may be tempted at times to imagine the family as full of innocence and good will, but actually family life resists such romanticism; any attempts to place a veil of Read More
Mini Breaks
Mini Breaks and Micro VacationsWouldn’t it be great if there was a Magic Fairy that came around everyday and rewarded parents for a job well done?! No such luck. Most parents have to reward themselves for a job well done. But with all the responsibilities taking time to reward yourself may feel like a luxury Read More