By: Dina Zelden

Being a parent is tough.  The to-do list never ends.  The tasks can be mind-numbing and the appreciation is fleeting.  Mommy and daddy burnout is a real problem.  It can, however, be avoided by incorporating these tips:

Know your parenting “why”
We live in a hypercompetitive culture.  We spend lots of time on social media—nearly an hour per day for most adults according to influencer marketing agency Mediakix.   It is easy to compare ourselves as parents and our children with what we see online.  Over-the-top birthday parties, children’s achievements, grades, sports accolades are all paraded online for us to see.  It is hard not to feel pressured to keep up, to fall into the comparison trap.  When you are grounded by the “why” of your parenting choices, you can guard against falling into this trap.  Decide what you want out of life for you and your children.  When you are comfortable with those decisions, you realize there’s no need to keep up or compare when you already have what you want.   

Scale Back
How much is it humanly possible to accomplish in a day?  Make lists and be reasonable. Prioritize. Require your children to pitch in.  Teaching them household chores will give them life skills.  Team work can be learned at home just as well as on the sports field.   Many moms and dads suffer from FOMO—the fear of missing out—and unconsciously pass this on to their children.  They do not have to participate in every activity, attend every party and be on a different sports field all year long.  Consider what is important to your family.  Give yourself permission to slow down and take it easy.  Set boundaries on your time as well as your children’s schedule.  It is important for everyone’s sanity.  Leave time each week for unscheduled downtime.

Gain Perspective
Nurture relationships with moms and dads of older or adult children.  They have been where you are and can relate and show you what lies ahead.  While it may seem you will never have time to yourself or get to the bottom of that laundry pile, this too shall pass.  Remember that being a parent is more about your relationship with your kids than it is a job.  Stop and smell the roses because before you know It, they will be grown.  The laundry piles will be gone but the memories you made will warm your heart forever.

It is easy to compare ourselves as parents and our children with what we see online