Our expectations in life are undeniably high, especially when becoming parents. In addition to always wanting to do what is best for the children, parents are also expected to perform at work, be creative, healthy, educated, social, plan wonderful holidays, and keep a beautiful home.

What happens when you experience that time is too scarce or that you are not doing enough is that your brain gets overwhelmed. The ability to think rationally deteriorates and we easily overlook what matters.

Stress can become the driving force causing us to forget to relax and just enjoy being with our children.

As a parent, you are the most important person in your child’s life, and you want to give your child, but also yourself, the best conditions to develop, feel safe and good.

There are certain parenting tips that parents have found to help them in everyday life and in the article below, we take a look at some of them.

Healthy Eating Habits

Parents are role models to their children and therefore have the task of promoting healthy eating behaviors and food preferences.

Research has shown a connection between parents and children’s eating habits, that children’s future food preferences are shaped early and that nutrition already during the fetal stage is important for the child’s future health. 

Parents’ attitudes towards food, as well as how it is expressed, are important for the design of children’s eating behavior. In terms of quality, you should also consider asking yourself what is the best healthy food for toddlers to eat.

Expose your child to as many different dishes and foods as possible. Eat and show what you believe is good, but do not get stressed if it takes time before the child wants to try it out. 

Sitting together at the dining table is also one of the few times when we adults sit at the same eye level as our small family members, so take advantage of it and use the time to talk to your children.

Take Time For Self-Care

As a stressed parent, especially of young children, it can be tough to find the time to take care of yourself as much as you should.

Of course, priorities in life considerably change when you become a parent and it is clear that it is no longer as important to always doll yourself up. The child’s well-being always comes first, but even as a parent, you need your own space and your own time.

Even on the days when you are at home, it is important to take care of yourself. Set the mood for the day by wearing your favorite comfy apparel and spread positivity in your home. Make yourself a good coffee, take a long nice bath in the evening when your partner comes home, just make sure you’re going to bed with a relaxed state of mind.

A good tip is to at least once a month, let your spouse, a friend, grandmother, take care of the child for a few hours so that you as a parent can get a break. Go to the hairdresser, treat yourself to a massage or facial, have a long coffee with your best friend, shop, take a long walk. All of these are examples of things that increase both our inner and outer well-being.

Feeling and looking good, and prioritizing oneself and one’s interests must never become unimportant, no matter what changes happen in life. It is a good sign of good mental health. 

Caring for your appearance, hygiene and the harmony of your body is not superficial. On the contrary, it is a sign that we love ourselves and we teach our children the same too.

Choose Your Battles And Ask For Support

Discover your early signs of stress and irritation and learn to recognize and let go of situations before they go too far. This especially goes for the times when you feel frustrated with your child. Try to speak in a calm voice and use calm body language even when you feel tense. Sometimes you may even need to back up a bit and avoid eye contact as it can easily trigger conflicts.

By daring to ask for help, you are doing yourself, your child, and any other family member a great service. Trying to deal with everything on your own when life feels difficult often leads to the situation getting worse.

Having a network of people who you can trust is an asset both for yourself and for the child. Sometimes relatives and friends may want to help but are reluctant to interfere. Therefore, it can be good to ask for help and receive support.

Help can be about small or big things. You may need help with practical things, such as someone going to the grocery store for you, cleaning the house, or cooking dinner. Help can also be that your significant other is with the child, or that you get a night of uninterrupted sleep.

Have Clear Rules And Determine Consequences

As a parent, you are the person who serves as an example and the most important teacher your child will ever have. By accepting the fact that your child will make mistakes many times in life and not expecting perfection, you will come a long way.

Gather the whole family and agree on some rules that should apply in the home. Chip in together and everyone, no matter big or small, will feel involved. This is also a good way for children to learn the importance of communication and teamwork, let everyone finish talking, listen and contribute to joint solutions.

Another important life lesson is that no one learns from their mistakes unless there are consequences and this also applies to children. Be consistent when it comes to this and do not cave in.

A tip is to let your child be involved and decide an appropriate punishment when it has overstepped one of your bounds.

Drop It And Be Forgiving

When your child does something wrong, do not criticize and judge unnecessarily. Stay calm and sane and when you have made your child realize its mistake, let things go and move on. If you continue to be angry, your child will feel ashamed, even for things that have nothing to do with the slip-up.

Even if your patience is low and frustration is about to take over, you must stay calm and show understanding when your child makes a mistake – whether your child does it consciously or not.

Being forgiving is not the same as diminishing the mistake, it just means that you are conveying that no one is perfect and that your love is unconditional. Once your child has understood this, you can calmly discuss any possible consequences of the behavior.

Boost Your Child’s Self-Esteem And Show Love

All parents want to give their children good self-esteem because we know that it is a crucial factor for us to feel good as adults. But how do we go about it? 

When the child fails, praise it for trying. This is how you strengthen self-esteem, instead of the child feeling that they cannot cope with the task, but instead feel encouraged to try again.

Parents have the task to show young children that the world is a safe place. It is about making a connection to the child, being permanently present and providing closeness. Security, comfort, and protection are the basis for good self-esteem.

It costs nothing to show love, but it has such profound importance. Children who feel seen and loved by their family develop a kind of self-esteem that gives them courage and stability.

Show love through kind words, appreciation, and spontaneous hugs. Be curious about their feelings, interests and never judge them, while also setting firm rules and boundaries.

Final Thoughts

When becoming parents, many adults find great happiness in seeing their children feel good and happy. However, the road is not always easy as we seem to be constantly worried about something. In the article, we shared some parenting tips to keep in mind when tired of the daily grind.

Healthy eating rituals, alone time, and thinking about your wellbeing, personal happiness, and joy are just some of the tips that will help you find calm in your everyday life while feeling satisfied and thankful.