Positive Parenting: 10 Ways to Relieve the Stress of Childrearing

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Note: This is a guest post by Heather Johnson of Business Credit Cards.

Do you strive to have a more patient, gentle approach to your parenting? Those of us with children know how hard it is to keep our cool at times. We are human, after all, and children are taxing at any age. While I can’t promise that you can obtain the demeanor of Mr. Rogers, there are many ways to relieve stress and improve your overall enjoyment of parenting.

1. Admit That You Aren’t Perfect – Only a superhuman can juggle every aspect of their adult lives without fault. You need to let go of your SuperDad / SuperMom complex now.
2. Teach Your Child Limits – Start this at an early age and be consistent. While tantrums are to be expected, overly pampered children will never grow out of them if you don’t teach them limits.
3. Allow Yourself Some Time Off – Whether it’s an uninterrupted bath or a few hours at the movies while the kids are with a sitter, you are allowed some personal time once in a while. In fact, your mental well-being depends on it.
4. Hold Regular “Family Meetings” – Once your children are old enough to understand what is going on in the house, make them a part of big decisions. A family meeting fosters healthy communication and problem solving between adults and children.
5. Socialize – Make sure you have other adults to talk to. You can always include your children with the socialization by planning play dates.
6. Stay Rested – While eight hours of sleep every night isn’t realistic for parents of young children, you need to sleep whenever you get the chance. Sleep deprivation can tremendously shorten your nerves.
7. Read About Parenting Styles – Don’t assume that every aspect of parenting is intuitive. In fact, you can learn a lot about parenting with various books by expert doctors and psychologists. Find the parenting style that best fits your family, as some books may not work for your situation. The Attachment Parenting Book by William and Martha Sears is ideal for parenting with a gentle, intuitive approach. Dr. Spock’s Baby and Child Care, however, offers a traditional, no-nonsense approach. Neither style is the “correct” style, of course, as they both have their place in different families.
8. Eat Well – Don’t skip meals when you’re running behind or because you get distracted. Your children aren’t the only people in the house who need balanced meals.
9. Exercise – Many parents don’t have time to join a local gym, but you should get some regular exercise to keep your energy level up and your mood on an even keel. (Taking your kids to the park and running around with them certainly counts as exercise!)
10. Learn To Laugh – When your two-year-old is melting down in the middle of the grocery store, it’s hard to maintain a sense of humor. However, you need to learn to laugh at the absurdity of everything. Don’t let your stress boil over. Instead, tell yourself that this too will pass.