This one's for everyone struggling with Parent-Guilt.
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Panel 1:
When I was a kid, we were told that the card catalog was a VITAL thing to learn. (young anxious Kim thinking: "If I don't get this right, my entire life will be ruined!"). But it was replaced by a computer system and became obsolete THE VERY NEXT YEAR!
Panel 2:
My point is, if you're a parent stressing out about your kids falling behind this year, I am too. I'm not gonna tell you to stop having your authentic experience. But also, we don't KNOW what these kids are going to need to know next year. (adult Kim hugging their kid).
I love it when we can all get really real for a second. Let’s forget the pretensions of parenthood, and leave the guilt at the door. This post opens up about so much more than crow poop at a pumpkin farm. It’s about letting ourselves be open to being our own imperfect selves, and leaving the obligations to “be” or “do” at the door. You know what I mean. You pinned the perfect Halloween costume on…
I know most parents experience guilt. It’s just part of parenting. Are we doing enough? Are we sending them to the right school? Are we living in a place that we want to raise them? Are we too strict? Are we too lax? Did we teach them to be polite enough?
Oh yes, guilt will always be a major factor in any parent's return to work. It's a nightmare. You feel terrible. You beat yourself up for making the decision to leave your child. Are you going back too soon? Will it affect your child's confidence, development, happiness, trust… the list goes on.
And it's not just working parents who suffer. There are also many kids who go to child care part time to give mum or dad a break and to get them used to being with other children, being in a different, more structured environment, learn social skills and routines.
It's OK. Your child is OK. You deserve some time out and now a study in the USA says that day care might actually reduce the risk of emotional problems in some children. Well at least it might for children who are more at risk of developing emotional problems.
The researchers focused on the children of parents suffering symptoms of depression, but then show us a mum who hasn't felt like she might be on the verge of depression at some point or other.
Even if it's not depression, it could be general busyness, work-related stress, career frustration, family issues, relationship stress, physical exhaustion, mental exhaustion…the list goes on. They say that babies can sense stress in their mums even before their mums register their own stress.
So it's hardly rocket science to see that removing a child from a stressful situation and putting him or her in a safe and secure environment like child care to hang out with other children is no bad thing.
Children in the USA showed less separation anxiety, social withdrawal, and fewer emotional problems in general.
We have found that Kinderloop is helping parents with this stress and anxiety, by giving parents the ability to be updated through the day with moments of care from their provider, they start to de-stress and feel more comfortable with the situation at hand, this in turn leads to better overall communication with child care worker and parent.
The happier and more relaxed you can make yourself, through whatever means, the happier your child will be.
