Most people expect parenting to be the most rewarding and meaningful thing they will ever do in their lives. However, navigating your way through a family life that involves different personalities, different interests, different capacities, and too many demands requires a level of management skills for which most of us are not trained and which often leave us feeling overwhelmed and stressed. We should anticipate the joys, but we also need to plan for the stress that will inevitably occur.

Symptoms of parenting stress

  • feeling tired all the time
  • feeling overwhelmed
  • easily irritated, easily frustrated
  • crying too often over very little, easily upset or distressed
  • short tempered
  • physical symptoms such as stomach aches, head aches, back aches
  • sleep disruption
  • racing thoughts

Here are some tips that can help you maintain your emotional health through the stress filled times:

Lower the expectations you have of yourself

You can't possibly do it all. Learn to accept that being a “good enough' parent really is okay. You can be an exceptional parent sometimes but not always and as long as most of the time you are doing your best and making sure your children are well nourished, well nurtured, supported with their academic and sports activities, and having some fun, then you can still feel good about your parenting.