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With all of the mom burnout going on, it may not be easy to feel happy. We’re stressed out, hardly get time to ourselves, and just overwhelmed most of the time. It can be hard not to put so much pressure on ourselves as parents, but it comes down to sometimes giving ourselves a break.
Being a happier parent can come from letting go of things that can drag us down. Below are great things to let go of if you want to be happier in your parenting. They are things that many of us fixate on, but when it comes down to it, they really don’t matter that much or serve us very well.
Letting Go of These 15 Things Can Make You a Happier Parent
1. Comparison
It can be hard not to compare ourselves to other parents, but we need to remember that we are the best parents for our kids. Just because another family does something differently doesn’t mean that we need to do things that way. Unfortunately, it is even easier to compare ourselves to others because of social media. So, take a break from scrolling and keep things in perspective. You see the highlight reel, and the daily struggles are still underneath the surface.
2. Being Perfect
No matter how much we try to be the “perfect” parent, employee, or spouse, it’s important to remember that we will never get there. No one is perfect. We all have bad days. Sometimes you may yell or get frustrated. Many of us do. If you make a mistake with your kids, apologize and move on. Your kids seeing you as a human is more important than seeing you as perfect.
3. Worrying
It is only natural that we worry and fret about our kids. We love them unconditionally and want the best for them. Unfortunately, excessive worrying can really take a toll and, in most cases, is unwarranted. Most of the time, your kids are going to be okay. Worrying about every little thing is going to make things worse.
4. Guilt
Again, we all make mistakes and internalize things that happen with our kids. My son had some issues with his teeth, and I often felt guilty about things I could have done differently and told myself that I was a bad mother. Really, there was no way I could have foreseen his problem. Letting go of the guilt we feel as moms goes a long way.
5. Your Own Childhood
We are influenced by our own childhoods and how we grew up. Drawing from these experiences is only natural, but don’t place the same fears on your kids. You can take the good but leave out the things that don’t help your kids. They aren’t you and accepting that you can’t dictate certain things will help the entire family’s happiness.
6. Your Expectations
Before we enter into parenthood, we have ideas of how we think things should go or are supposed to be. Kids will challenge and surprise you, so it’s impossible to hold onto your preconceived ideas of what you think having kids will be. It will most likely be different, so trying to adhere to these expectations will only make everyone, including your kids, miserable.
7. A Completely Clean House
I may have let go of this one too completely some days, but kids are messy. Your house is never going to be spotless. It just isn’t. If the mess causes you anxiety, by all means, clean. If you can let go of obsessing about it, try to do that. Some days, cleaning isn’t as important as other things, or you may find that you don’t get to it, and that’s okay.
8. Distractions
It can be hard to get out of our heads and out of our phones and enjoy the moments while we’re in them. With constant notifications, we’re often pulled out of moments that we should be reveling in. Our kids will not be this age forever, so knowing when to pay attention and enjoy what’s going on will bring you so much more joy. Putting down the phone, being more present, and connecting with our kids is a great way to become a happier parent.
9. Yelling
Some parents yell sometimes. It’s not that we ever go into heated moments intending to, but it can happen. This is something that I’m working on. Kids get loud, and I get louder to be heard, but it can scare my kids. Giving up yelling will create a calmer space for everyone, and hopefully, emotions won’t explode as often.
10. Food Fights
There are certain things here that we should try to get our kids to eat, but it’s important not to force things all of the time. If you try to get them to eat certain things or take a certain amount of bites, they will get more defiant, and no one will be happy. There may be something else going on too. For instance, maybe they are full, or perhaps their tummy is bothering them. You may find that your kids will eventually eat some of the stuff you would like them to by not pushing so hard.
11. Too Much Self-Sacrifice
Moms especially are notorious for being martyrs. We sacrifice our bodies and our time for our kids. We’re glad to do it most of the time because we love them so much. There comes the point, though, where you need to prioritize yourself. You can’t be self-sacrificing all the time because it’s impossible to sustain. You can be a better and happier parent by getting time for yourself. Your family will be happier too.
12. Looking Perfect
I’ve never really had a problem with this one because I’ve always favored comfortable clothes and wasn’t ever into makeup. However, I sometimes tend to shy away from pictures, so that’s something else I’m working on. It is more important to be in the photos not looking perfect than to avoid them altogether. Your kids will want to see pictures of you together. They don’t care what you look like as long as you’re there.
13. Force
While it’s key to set boundaries for your kids, forcing them to do things isn’t always the right way to go about it. The “because I said so” argument is one I’ve used, but instead, I should take a step back. If kids understand the why behind something, they can begin to see why you want them to do something.
14. Overscheduling
When I had my first child, I obsessed over ensuring that we got out of the house at least once a week. I’ve also tried to make rigid schedules, which don’t work. Instead, look at having a loose schedule that can change if it needs to. Kids are unpredictable, so maybe things will get canceled that you planned on. It’s okay to spend a day at home and not have to do all the things.
15. Negative Messages
It can be so easy to use negative messaging with kids because often, they are being too loud or not sitting nicely. When we criticize, it’s often about our own state of mind. Maybe we’re tired, and our head hurts, so they seem super loud. Instead of telling them they’re loud and irritating, spin the narrative. Instead, you could ask them nicely to use their inside voice and then tell them why. Tell them you don’t feel good. You can positively flip some negative messages.
There’s enough pressure on parents without making it harder on ourselves. Letting go of things that don’t serve us, and may actually stress us out more, can help us be calmer and happier parents. You may even enjoy parenthood more by letting go of some of these things. It may not be easy to do all of these, so start with a few and work from there. There’s always room for growth, and you will have more fun as a result.
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