Sometimes beneath the hustle of back to school preparations is a range of emotions needing to be processed. Both children and caregivers may experience conflicting feelings as they anticipate another school year.

One of the most stressful aspects of parenting is the demands on a parent’s time and attention. Creating individual space for the parent can be a challenge, logistically and emotionally. With the infant, toddler, and preschool group this can be especially hard. Fortunately, dedicating intervals of concentrated time to playing with children can create opportunities for restorative mini-breaks throughout a parent’s day.

Last month we looked at the impact of the fourth trimester on mom, but dads can also face challenges during this time. The CDC estimates that 5 - 10% of new fathers in the US suffer from postpartum depression and that 1 in 10 experience postpartum anxiety (2021).

Through compassionate connection we can alleviate distress and be more present as a parent.

Prompt. Praise. Prize. The 3 P’s, a simple way to remember how to shape a behavior using positive reinforcement strategies.

“No!” “Gimme!” “Mine!” “But, I want it!” Cue full body floor meltdown.

Kids can have surprising amounts of strength as a tantrum sets off. It’s like one minute you’ve got them one-hip-one-handed like “NBD, I got this parenting thing down!” and the next it’s like you’re doing deadlifts at bootcamp… Any parents relate?! I know these elephant mommas get me!

A discreetly powerful tool for coping and connection, “sitting with” provides parents, friends, and other loved ones an (arguably) tangible tool for supporting another living being through something difficult (e.g., sadness, anxiety, grief, trauma). By “being there” for another in body, mind, and emotion, you remind others that they are not alone, and connection with supportive others can be a natural pain reliever.