I once heard the definition of stress as: anything we perceive to be out of our control. I like that because it explains why each of us stresses over different situations. At times, though, we all feel our kids and their behavior are out of our control. That’s why parenting is such a stressful task. It’s not for the weak-hearted. Comedian Martin Mull quipped, “Parenting is like having a bowling alley in your head.” But, I like to remember the words of Albert Einstein and relate them to parenting; “Not everything that counts can be counted. And not everything that can be counted counts.” This often prompts me to relax and stop fretting about every issue in my children’s lives or overestimating the importance of their problems.
Two characters in Chinese spell the word stress; one character means danger and the other means opportunity. I think that perfectly explains the tension in raising kids today; it can be a hazard but it also gives us opportunities to learn, laugh, grow, and make memories to fall back on when they’re out of the house. If you’re feeling stressed about raising kids, remember:
- All kids can and do misbehave.
- There are no perfect kids.
- There are no perfect parents.
- Parenting is a short season of life.
- Physical affection is therapeutic; give and receive hugs.
- See humor (somewhere) in the situation.
- Take a break; exercise, listen to soothing music, read a chapter in a favorite book, or enjoy a cup of coffee.
- Talking to other adults can ease loneliness or frustration.
- Wisdom knows what to overlook.
- Good parents practice self-care; eat right and sleep when your kids do.
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