Parenting Groups: The Crucial Need for Parental Support

Parenting is a rewarding and fulfilling journey, but it also comes with its fair share of challenges and stressors. In the midst of diaper changes, school runs, and bedtime stories, it's easy for parents to overlook their mental health. However, the truth is that parents need support for their mental well-being just as much as anyone else.

In this blog post, we will explore why parental mental health support is crucial for both parents and their children.

1. Parental Stress Impacts Children

   First and foremost, it's essential to recognize that parental stress and mental health directly impact children. When parents are overwhelmed, anxious, or depressed, it can create a less nurturing and supportive environment for their kids. Children are remarkably perceptive, and they can pick up on their parents' emotions. High levels of parental stress can lead to behavioral issues in children, anxiety, and even long-term emotional challenges.

2. Self-Care Is Not Selfish

   One common misconception among parents is that taking time for self-care is selfish. In reality, it's quite the opposite. Prioritizing your mental health is an act of selflessness because it ensures you are emotionally available and resilient for your children. Just like you'd put on an oxygen mask first in an airplane emergency to help others, taking care of your mental health enables you to be a better parent and role model.

3. Breaking the Stigma

   Sadly, there is still a significant stigma surrounding mental health, which can be a barrier for parents seeking help. By openly discussing and seeking support for their mental health, parents can play a crucial role in breaking down these barriers. This normalization of mental health care can benefit not only parents but also their children, who will learn the importance of seeking help when needed.

4. Managing the Juggling Act

   Parenting often involves juggling multiple responsibilities, from work to household chores to childcare. The constant demands can lead to burnout and stress, making it challenging to enjoy the parenting journey fully. Access to mental health support can provide parents with the tools and strategies to manage stress effectively, ensuring they have the energy and patience to be present for their children.

5. Improved Parent-Child Relationships

   Positive parent-child relationships are built on trust, communication, and emotional connection. When parents prioritize their mental health, they are better equipped to foster these crucial elements. Emotional well-being allows parents to engage in meaningful conversations with their children, providing guidance and support when needed.

6. Teaching Resilience

   Children learn by example, and when parents demonstrate resilience and the ability to cope with life's challenges, their children are more likely to develop these essential life skills. Seeking help for mental health issues when necessary sets a powerful example, teaching children that it's okay to ask for support when facing difficulties.

7. Prevention of Long-Term Mental Health Issues

   Untreated mental health issues in parents can lead to more severe problems down the line. By addressing mental health concerns early on, parents can prevent the development of more complex and long-term issues. This not only benefits parents but also ensures a healthier environment for their children.

In the whirlwind of parenting, it's easy for parents to neglect their mental health. However, taking care of your mental well-being isn't just a personal choice; it's an essential aspect of effective parenting. By seeking and receiving the support they need, parents can create a healthier and happier environment for themselves and their children. So, let's break the stigma, prioritize parental mental health, and nurture both ourselves and our children, ensuring a brighter future for all.

5 Ways to Parent Like a Pro

Parenting like a pro involves continuously learning, adapting, and prioritizing the well-being and development of your children. Our kids and teens really do need all our love and care. Of course it is hard to remember this among moments of stress and frustration. Times with our kids is very valuable and they learn everything from us.

Here are 5 tips to help you become a more effective and nurturing parent:

1. Be Present and Engaged:

   Spend quality time with your children and be fully present during interactions. Engage in activities that interest them and show genuine interest in their lives. Having fun with your child or teen can set them up for success, not to mention boost their confidence as well.

2. Set Clear Boundaries and Expectations:

   Establish consistent rules and expectations, and communicate them clearly to your children. Consistency helps children feel secure and understand what is expected of them. Kids and teens thrive from consistent and similar expectations. Remember they are learning if the world is safe and this is a keep indicator in regard to safety.

3. Practice Positive Discipline:

   Focus on positive reinforcement and constructive discipline rather than harsh punishments. Encourage good behavior with praise and rewards, and use consequences that teach valuable lessons. Try to redirect and avoid meltdowns as much as possible. Although, if a meltdown does happen be prepared to listen, validate and not fuel the situation.

4. Listen Actively:

   Practice active listening when your child wants to share something with you. Show empathy and validate their feelings, even if you might not agree with them. Kids and teens love validation and empathy. This helps them feel connected and also helps them learn that you are a safe person to go to in case of any dangers presented to them.

5. Be a Role Model:

   Children often learn by observing their parents' behavior. Be a positive role model by demonstrating the values and behaviors you want to instill in them. Our kids and teens need great people in their lives. The great thing is you can be one of these people. Teach them things that you wish you had learned and always be the person you needed at their age.

Being a parent is no easy gig. Everyday is full of new challenges and curve balls. You really have to remember you are doing the best you can with what you have.

Do you feel that you need more parenting support? Our Parenting Group is coming to you this September. It will be online for a total of 8 weeks. Pre-register now by emailing hello@serenemindpsych.com

Our Therapists Know, Dads You Matter Too

Dads are typically overlooked when it comes to raising kids, but many of us know that without the great and positive men in our lives, we would just not be who we are. Dating back only a few short decades it was normal to think of the words “Parent” and “Mother” as synonymous.

According to previous social standards, dad’s sole purpose within a family was simply to provide and protect. Mom, on the other hand, was known to be the housekeeper, child-barer, and care taker. Due to this overwhelmingly inaccurate ideal that men were not meant to raise children, there was a stigma, that has since been challenged, that men could not be a stay at home parent or be an active member in the raising of a child.

In the 1970’s, research on fathers and parenting started coming to light. There were studies that showed that there is a direct correlation in paternal parenting to the positive impacts of emotional, social, and education development. It is actually affirmed that fathers spend more time practicing stimulation, playful activity during one-on-one interactions with infants and children than mothers do, increasing the child ability to regulate feelings and behaviors.

Fathers who have a positive involvement in their children’s lives:

• Aid in the well-being and general health of their children.

• Help their children increase self-esteem.

• Help girls to grow up having a more positive opinion of men, making healthy relationships come easily to them in the future compared to those who do not.

• Help boys establish what a great male role model and father figure are for their own future families.

Aside from the facts and the statistics, dads are awesome.

They are the first ones to teach us things like sports and roughhousing. They push you to play your hardest and work your hardest just to be the best version of you that you can be. They have the best (worst) jokes and somehow instinctually know how to rock a barbeque grille the moment their first child is born. There is no car problem they cannot fix and no heart they cannot mend. At the end of the day, we know they are human and maybe sometimes make mistakes, but we love them anyways. Thank you to all the awesome dads out there. We wouldn’t have known what it’s like to have the world’s best hamburger if it wasn’t for you!