Sometimes, life can be hard, but parenting doesn’t pause when you’re stressed, tired, worried or overwhelmed. This can leave many parents and carers feeling stretched far beyond capacity.
You might notice yourself snapping more easily, shutting down, or running on empty just to get through the day. If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone.
Self-regulation isn’t about staying calm all the time or getting it “right”. It’s about noticing what’s happening inside you, understanding why it’s happening, and finding ways to support yourself through it, especially when times are tough.
As adults, we often expect ourselves to cope quietly. We tell ourselves to push through, keep going, or hold it together for the sake of the children. But our nervous systems don’t work on willpower alone.
When stress builds up, whether from work pressures, financial worries, health concerns, relationship strain, or sheer exhaustion, our bodies can slip into survival mode. You might feel on edge, tearful, numb, short-tempered or constantly alert. None of this means you’re failing. It means your nervous system is doing its best to protect you.
Children are highly attuned to the adults around them. They don’t need perfection, but they do benefit from being around adults who are supported, regulated and able to repair when things wobble. Looking after your own regulation is not selfish; it’s part of caring for your family.
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