In the university called life, parenting is probably one of the most difficult subjects to ace and can get immensely frustrating. With the mounting pressures of our fast-paced world piled on top of managing sibling rivalries, or helping out with their school work, it’s too easy to get overwhelmed.
A recent study was conducted and parents agreed that parenting has become increasingly difficult compared to the past generations. One major reason that was pointed out is the sheer confusing number of parenting advice and philosophies available to us. Add to this the pressure WE put on ourselves to get parenting right every single time.
As modern moms who face more stress in this day and age, let’s use these challenges to learn and grow as parents. The next time you’re feeling frustrated as a parent, Big Life Journal recommends you to remember to do these 5 things:
1. Accept Your Child As They Are
This is one of the most common reasons for friction between parent and child – unmet expectations. Learn to reconcile and accept who your children are rather than who you expect them to be. Frequently assure them that you love them, and be observant of their love language, so you can reciprocate them in a way that makes them feel loved, seen, and appreciated.
2. Allow Your Emotions
Emotions are important but we must learn how to master it, not to be mastered by it. When a strong feeling arises, pause and take a deep breath. Then use this helpful exercise called S.T.O.P.:
S – Stop what you’re doing
T – take a deep breath
O – observe your thoughts and feelings as they are
P – proceed with whatever you were doing before
3. Observe The 90-Second Rule
Resisting a feeling will only encourage us to remain stuck in it. Within the first 90 seconds of a strong emotion, be sure to communicate it to your child and how you plan to cope with them. For example, “Mommy is feeling very tired and grumpy right now. Can we play later?”
4. Parent From A Place Of Gratitude
Exercising gratitude is a great way to improve both your physical and mental health. It also increases your ability to empathize and helps you sleep better. One way to do this is to change your “I have to,” to “I get to.” For example, “I have to bring my son to his baseball game,” versus “I get to bring my son to his baseball game.” It puts parenting into perspective and help you cope with stressful situations better.
5. Apply Growth Mindset To Your Parenting
No one was born a good parent. However, you can grow to be the best parent you can be. Whenever parenting becomes frustrating, use it as a learning opportunity and do better next time.