| Remember the first time you saw your first-born | | | | helping him or her with homework. This is |
| child? You might have been amazed at her eyes, | | | | particularly important if you have more than one |
| or mesmerized by the perfection of his hands. | | | | child. You need some fun time with your child-to |
| You might have dutifully recorded the first smile, | | | | let him or her know that you care. Plan for an |
| the first laughs, the first steps, the first dance. He | | | | afternoon of rollerskating or an evening playing |
| or she became the most important individual in | | | | checkers. You'll find that such relaxing activities |
| your life. When that little person came into your | | | | can help to alleviate your stress. |
| world, you knew that your life had changed | | | | Also, it is important that you build into your day a |
| forever. | | | | break in the action. Have your husband or wife |
| There is nothing quite like the joy of parenthood. | | | | watch the children for ten minutes while you |
| It can lift your spirits on the most miserable day. | | | | re-group. This is particularly important if you find |
| It gives you a reason to rise in the morning, and | | | | yourself under so much stress that you are |
| a good excuse for blowing bubbles, catching | | | | about to lose your temper. Give yourself a |
| fireflies, or gazing at a fireworks display. When | | | | timeout-and watch your stress level drop |
| you give your child a hug at night, you know that | | | | considerably. |
| all is right with the universe. | | | | Mention needs to be made about the special |
| However, parenthood can also be quite stressful. | | | | stress that single parents feel. Theirs is a difficult |
| There are so many demands on your time, so | | | | lot and the pressures can be intense. That is why |
| many commitments you need to fulfill. Your | | | | it is so critically important for single parents to |
| responsibilities can leave you feeling anxious and | | | | strengthen their support systems. They need to |
| frustrated. If your child is sick, or is having trouble | | | | have a parent, brother or sister, or friend they |
| in school, or has become involved in drug or | | | | can rely on when the stress of parenting |
| alcohol abuse, your stress level could rise to the | | | | becomes overwhelming. Just having someone to |
| max. | | | | talk to can be a tremendous stress-reliever. In |
| Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do to | | | | other cases, a single parent might need someone |
| eliminate the stressors associated with | | | | to watch his or her children for the night so that |
| parenthood. They simply come with the territory. | | | | the parent can re-group. Asking for help is not a |
| While you can guide your child, you cannot expect | | | | sign of weakness-it is indicative of great emotional |
| to control him or her, particularly when your child | | | | strength. If you find yourself falling apart, don't |
| reaches the teenage years. Therefore, you have | | | | wait for a crisis to get some assistance. If you |
| to learn to somehow manage the stress of | | | | turn to others for support, you will find that your |
| parenthood before it gets the better of you. | | | | family unit will only grow stronger. |
| The most important strategy you can adopt is to | | | | Parenting is perhaps the single greatest |
| keep the communication going between yourself | | | | responsibility a person can hold. As a result, there |
| and your child, even when it becomes difficult. | | | | is a tremendous amount of stress involved. |
| Your stress level will be greatly reduced if you | | | | Recognizing that fact is an important part of the |
| can talk with your child, especially when something | | | | parenting process. Once you are attuned to |
| is bothering him or her. It is important for your | | | | stress-and the causes of it-you are more likely to |
| child to know that your love is unconditional, and | | | | be able to manage it well. It is important also for |
| that he or she can turn to you at any time of | | | | you to recognize that stress management is an |
| the day or night. Strengthening the bond of trust | | | | on-going process-that it doesn't happen overnight. |
| can do a great deal to eliminate your stress. | | | | However, with time, you can become a first-rate |
| Another stress-reducing tact you can take is to | | | | stress manager. |
| set aside time to spend with your child-other than | | | | |