Stressed, Burned Out, Isolated and Depressed
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Posted by Wei Yin Wong May 14, 2009 |
All parents will feel stressed, burned out and depressed from time to time. For stay-at-home parents, there is something else to deal with. They are often isolated as well.
The questions is, are all the efforts and trouble worth it? Mostly yes. Children are and should be every parent's priority. Household chores must be done to make sure kids have their meals and the house is relatively clean.
However, resentment, anger and frustration often set in easily when kids refuse to behave, when there are heaps of household chores to attend to and when the spouse just isn't pulling his weight around the house. Overwhelmed, some mums just hope they can find a hole and crawl right into it and not see anyone or do anything for three days.
I should know. I feel that from time to time. But I've also learnt to unwind and refuel my tank. Parenting experts such as Steve Biddulph, Miriam Stoppard and Michael Grose all agree that parents should have some "me-time". And I make it a point to have that.
I suppose it's easier for me now that both my kids are at school. I could pursue my own interests quite easily while still ensuring that there are proper meals for the family and that the laundry is taken care of. Make no mistake. It's not easy juggling all that although I don't have to work outside the home. It's just that I manage my time well and know how to recharge myself. Having supportive friends also helps me feel less isolated.
Here are a few things I always tell myself. Don't try to be a supermum. Keep meals simple. Spend at least one hour a day doing things I want to do. Read my trashy romance novels when the kids are asleep. Watch my Discovery Channel or National Geographic documentaries when the kids are asleep. Be playful with my spouse. And ask him nicely when I want him to help.
For more ideas to cope with the challenges of parenthood, read my following articles:
Burnout Management for Full-time Mums
Depression Management for Stay-at-home Mums
Stress Management for Stay-at-home Parents
Stay-at-home Parents and Isolation