Taking care of yourself

Parenting- it’s one of the hardest jobs in the world! While bringing immense joy to your life, it can also bring a fresh set of challenges and stresses. Some come and go, while others stick around a little longer. But it’s when these problems become overwhelming that they can lead to parenting stress.

Simply put, parenting stress is the unique stress you feel as a parent, when the challenges of parenting outweigh your perceived ability to cope (Deater-Deckard, 1998). When this happens, it can impact your wellbeing and how you behave, as well as your relationship with your children and their emotional and behavioural development (Deater-Deckard, 1998). It’s important to understand the signs and to find ways to cope.