Want happy kids? Of course you do! Stop by The Huffington Post to read 7 Secrets of Highly Happy Children!
We’ve known for quite some time that maternal and/or parental stress trickles down and causes stress for children. Numerous studies have shown that even infants can sense stress and react with a stress response.
But a new study out of Boston Children’s Hospital and published in the journal Developmental Science found that a mother’s perceived social status predicts her child’s brain development and stress indicators. In this particular study, children whose mothers saw themselves as low social status were more likely to have increased cortisol levels and less activation of their hippocampus. What does that mean? They’re stressed.
It seems like the hidden dangers of stress are all over the news these days, and yet we live in a society that thrives on stress. Clearly this isn’t working for our children. It’s time to work on finding happiness, so that the trickle down effect sends happiness trickling down to our little ones.
Happy moms raise happy kids. And all moms deserve to be happy.
Tips for prioritizing happiness.
Surround yourself with positive:
Any mom knows the power of the tribe. Parenting is hard work and having a supportive network of friends and family truly makes the difference between feeling like you can handle just about anything and feeling utterly alone in this thing. But it’s important to make sure that your tribe is a happy one.
Negativity is contagious. So is stress. On the bright side…happiness is too.
Surround yourself with people who will lift you and help you through the hard days without bringing you down along the way.
Keep the venting short:
It’s important to vent those overwhelming feelings when life is hard, and it’s really important to have a supportive ear on the other end of the line. But it’s essential to keep it short. You can get stuck in a negative cycle of constant complaining and venting that increases your stress and potentially leads to symptoms of depression.
People love to joke that a long talk with a friend is akin to a therapy session. The truth is that a therapist won’t just sit back and let you spin a cycle of negativity for 45 minutes. A therapist will step in and help you through those feelings to get to the other side.
Set a timer. Get it out. Then move on to the happy stuff.
Get your me time:
“I can’t find a single second to just sit down.”
It’s a common refrain in mom circles. And for good reason. No matter the ages of your kids, there is always something that requires doing. Being a parent is a full time job and a lifelong commitment. But you have to find some time for you.
It’s critical for moms to learn the art of self-care while parenting. We need to de-stress. We need exercise. We need an hour (or a few) away here and there to rejuvenate and just enjoy some quiet time. Sometimes you have to get creative, but me time can be done. I have one mom friend who worked out a running schedule with two other moms on her street so that each mom gets to run alone a few days a week. Many moms alternate child care to give each other some time to be alone.
Your mental health is important – for you and your kids. Find your time and feel happy.
Get organized:
Bottom line: Lack of organization leads to unnecessary stress. Find a system that works for you (ask around and check online, there are some very creative moms out there with amazing ideas) and prioritize de-cluttering your home and your mind.
When you feel more control over the day-t0-day stressors that sometimes get you down, you will begin to feel more confident. This leads to greater overall happiness for moms.
Weekly stress assessments:
Choose a day to check your stress each week. Start with a list of your most common triggers, and add and delete as necessary. Find a quiet moment to sit down and review how the week went. Were you less stressed? More? What helped? What didn’t?
Self assessments help people gain some control over their own well-being. Assessments can help you shift from feeling completely overwhelmed to confident in your ability to thrive, no matter the circumstances.
Final thoughts: When you feel confident, you feel happy. When you let go of stress and take some control, you are more likely to experience more positive feelings overall. And that’s the stuff that you want trickling down to your kids.
Don’t forget to stop by The Huffington Post for 7 Secrets of Highly Happy Children!!!!
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