Eastern Carolina Parent - April 2009 - (Page 25) • Join a parent group, play group, or night-out events for networking opportunities. • Seek and accept help when needed. It sets a good example for children and it helps reduce your workload. • Take time to treat yourself to a bubble bath, read a book or watch a movie, TV show or sporting event. • Exercise is a proven stress reliever; sometimes all you need is a brief stretch or walk. • Focus on something that is soothing, such as the beach, the mountains or any other “happy place.” While stress is not completely avoidable or preventable, occasionally stress inducing situations can be circumvented. For example, if you know that your child can only tolerate 30 minutes of being out in public before misbehaving or melting down, plan to spend only that amount of time in public. Let your child know that you will be spending 30 minutes out in public and offer to do an activity of his choice once you get home. This will provide something for your child to look forward to and you will be rewarding his good behavior. Gradually, your child’s tolerance for longer public outings will increase. Taking the time to reflect on you and your child’s positive qualities can refocus your mind and allow you to better cope with stress. Remind yourself that you are a dedicated parent and that you are doing the best job you can. It’s never too late to develop good habits from which your child can learn. Modeling and practicing stress management will teach you and your child how to live a happier healthier life. Melissa Adamson is an ECU graduate and mother of an 8 year old boy. She lives in Greenville and is a Parent Outreach Coordinator with Martin/Pitt Partnership for Children where she has worked for the last five years. We carry kids designer Hudson jeans www.easterncarolinaparent.com Eastern Carolina Parent : April 2009 2 http://www.easterncarolinaparent.com
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.