All stressed out and nowhere to hide? Try this Stressed-Out Survival Tip for parents.
Every parent knows it: children change our lives in profound ways. They change a mother's body, rearrange parents' time, and test their relationships. Plus, children add a whole lot of new stresses to life.
Jennifer Pinto wrote to tell us about a way she has found to reflect on these changes and make parenting more positive. She keeps a Parent's Journal.
Parenthood has not only changed how I view myself, but also how I view the world. Children can make the most mundane events seem magical. My children have taught me many lessons, and they do it in very subtle ways.
Like most parents, I was so busy that I didn't take the time to reflect on these lessons. I decided to keep a mother's journal. I write in it frequently, focusing on the lessons I am learning from my children and how I am changing through my interactions with them.
I write about the wonderful and the difficult days, hoping to learn something from both types of experiences. I write about the challenges, unexpected joys and rewards of parenthood.
Jennifer's journaling tips:
- Keep a notebook handy to jot down ideas or cute quotes from your children.
- After a difficult day, ask yourself, "What have I learned from this experience" or "what is my child trying to teach me?"
- Write about the positive as well as the negative.
- Dads can do this, too!