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PREVENTING

MOMMY/DADDY

BURNOUT

and your children. When you are GAIN PERSPECTIVE
By: Dina Zelden comfortable with those decisions, Nurture relationships with moms
you realize there’s no need to keep and dads of older or adult children.
up or compare when you already They have been where you are and
eing a parent is tough. The have what you want. can relate and show you what lies
to-do list never ends. The ahead. While it may seem you will
tasks can be mind-numb- SCALE BACK never have time to yourself or get to
Bing and the appreciation is How much is it humanly possible the bottom of that laundry pile, this
fleeting. Mommy and daddy burnout to accomplish in a day? Make too shall pass. Remember that being
is a real problem. It can, however, be lists and be reasonable. Prioritize. a parent is more about your relation-
avoided by incorporating these tips: Require your children to pitch in. ship with your kids than it is a job.
Teaching them household chores
KNOW YOUR PARENTING will give them life skills. Team work Stop and smell the roses because be-
“WHY” can be learned at home just as well fore you know It, they will be grown.
We live in a hypercompetitive as on the sports field. Many moms The laundry piles will be gone but the
culture. We spend lots of time on and dads suffer from FOMO—the memories you made will warm your
social media—nearly an hour per day fear of missing out—and uncon- heart forever.
for most adults according to influenc- sciously pass this on to their chil-
er marketing agency Mediakix. It is dren. They do not have to partici-
easy to compare ourselves as parents pate in every activity, attend every
and our children with what we see party and be on a different sports
online. Over-the-top birthday parties, field all year long. Consider what
children’s achievements, grades, is important to your family. Give
sports accolades are all paraded yourself permission to slow down
online for us to see. It is hard not and take it easy. Set boundaries on
to feel pressured to keep up, to fall your time as well as your children’s
into the comparison trap. When you schedule. It is important for every-
are grounded by the “why” of your one’s sanity. Leave time each week
parenting choices, you can guard for unscheduled downtime.
against falling into this trap. Decide
what you want out of life for you It is easy to compare ourselves
as parents and our children
with what we see online

22 INSPIRE HEALTH January § February