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

Why do Women Need Support Groups?

In today’s world, women are facing many challenges that effect all aspects of their life. From trying to balance their family, career, self-image, societal expectations, gender bias, and a myriad of other issues women may face in their lifetime. Support groups can help make facing these challenges just a little easier. Having community and others that can relate to your experiences, empathize, and provide support can help tremendously in navigating life’s stressors.

Here are some ways women can benefit from support groups:

Emotional support:

The purpose of a support group is to give people the space to freely express their thoughts, emotions, and experiences; in a judgement free zone. Having the ability to share your feelings with others who can empathize and provide support can give us a great sense of relief and comfort that can translate to experiences in our day to day.

Empowerment and solidarity:

Support groups can provide a safe space for women to come together, share their experiences, and empathize and support one another. Having this space to connect with other women can help us feel validated, seen, and empowered to face the challenges ahead. There is power in numbers and having people you can connect with that you likely wouldn’t have otherwise met can give us perspective and support we didn’t know we needed.

Sharing knowledge:

Support groups don’t only provide emotional support but knowledge and resources to take on challenges. The great thing about talking with other people that have gone through similar things is that we have likely found resources, information, and ways to cope. The exchange of knowledge can be seen through things like strategies to help balance our lives, navigating relationships, or managing mental health struggles. Wisdom and perspective are some of the most valuable things that can help us in life, having support groups with a group of women you can connect with can help further this aspect of our lives.

Community:

Being a woman can be an incredibly isolating. When our society expects us to have a career, partner, children, take care of our looks and health, and have good relationships with friends, it can be hard to juggle it all. We have many times been conditioned to put others before ourselves and this can be isolating. Support groups can give us the space to connect and feel accepted by others. We all crave belonging and community and a group can help make us feel less alone.

Education:

Many support groups are facilitated by therapists, coaches, or enthusiasts on a topic. Either way, there will likely be a goal of educating, this could look like being taught ways to engage in self-care, stress management, or boundary setting. There may also be “homework” such as journaling prompts or other tasks to do for the time between group.

Having the tools to combat our struggles is healing and can help us build our confidence. Support groups can help women throughout all life stages and experiences many of us will face. Finding a group, you can connect with and feel inspired and empowered by can help us in positive ways all around. They do not need to be done in person and there are many you can find that are done online. Your people are out there, and you will find them, when you do, you can only grow as a person.

How to Support the Women in Your Life

Being a woman is hard work. We live busy lives and are expected to have multiple responsibilities. We are always on the go, trying to do more to satisfy the people around us. The expectations placed upon on us by our kids, families and society can be greatly consuming. Our world is not always the most empathetic place towards people who want to slow down, take a break or recharge.

Here are 4 ways to support women and lift each other up:

1. Set realistic expectations:

   Having expectations that are realistic can help encourage everyone to do the best they can without creating unwanted pressure. The pressure we feel as women to navigate both home and work life is already daunting. Having boundary that gives us space to navigate home life and work life at different times of the day, can help create a better balance and let us take a moment to focus on one task at a time. This can in turn make us more productive and reduce stress.

2. Ask them if they need help:

   It is okay to see your mom or wife and ask them if they need help. It is also okay for a woman to say yes to accepting help. Sometimes we get so caught up in our own needs and self worth that we forget we can pause and ask for help. Asking for help is a sign of self awareness and it means you are more in tune with your needs.

3. Ask them how they are feeling:

   On the same note, it is okay to ask a woman how they feel. Sometimes giving us space to talk about how we actually feel can help ground us and reconnect us to what is actually important. When we get caught up in the everyday go, go, go of life we forget to pause and enjoy the life we have created and the people around us.

4. Remind them to take a break:

   Tell the women in your life the importance of resting, reseting and relaxing. We are told that our society only values the constant worker and the one who does the most. The opposite is actually needed at times. the more we learn that everything we have is in the right here and right now, the more fortunate we can actually see that we are. We do not need anything more, we have it all and now can take a moment to rest.

Women are at times undervalued and this can present setbacks for many of us. We are the doers, the go getters, the soccer moms and caretakers. Women are known to neglect themselves. By realizing that taking time to rest and support each other can actually be healthy and healing, we can become the best version of ourselves.

Do you want more support from women like you? Come join our Women’s Group, every last Friday of the month from 6 pm to 7:30 pm.

Our Therapists Confirm, Self Care is Not Selfish

We never stop. As women we are always on the go, cooking, cleaning, working, doing. We forget that taking care of others, includes taking care of ourselves. Our own guilt plays a role in how much we do and how little we stop to think about us.

Self care is not selfish. 

Self care is necessary.

We can not expect our minds, bodies and souls to keep functioning if we do not take a moment to unplug. In a world of instant gratification in which everything is at our finger tips, it is ironic that we do not find a way to stop and just relax.

Imagine if we reset and took a moment everyday to practice a self care routine? What are some ways you can self-care today?

1. Turn off your phone

2. Walk outside

3. Sit in sunlight

4. Meditate

5. Eat a healthy snack

6. Try a magnesium salt bath

7. Treat yourself to a massage

Practicing self care is a way we show ourselves love, gratitude and appreciation. Lets face it, if we loved ourselves more, we would have an easier time in our roles as wives, mothers, sisters, aunts, grandmothers, students, colleagues, bosses and friends. Self care is self love and that is the greatest gift you can ever give yourself.