Caring for kids can bring up complicated feelings to navigate
Being a parent is not an easy feat; the responsibility is immense. Parents aim for their children to become caring, responsible, and well-adjusted adults. The parent has to be a protector, caregiver, teacher, role model, support system, and provider. It is a never-ending job with poor hours, little sleep, and no pay. Yet, if you ask most parents, it is the most rewarding job they could ever have.
As Our Children Grow, So Do Our Responsibilities as Parents
Caring for young kids, tweens, or teenagers brings challenges that can stir up difficult emotions, especially when trying to process our own life experiences, whether it be our parents’ decisions and choices in raising us or past traumas that we have gone through. Feelings of being overwhelmed, loss of identity, frustration, guilt, and even resentment are common for parents to manage at times. Remembering that we don’t have to navigate these emotions alone is necessary. Speaking to a therapist or counselor or joining a parenting support group can help provide guidance and reassurance.
Young Children
When our children are young, we are likely to feel overwhelmed balancing their constant needs with work, household responsibilities, self-care, and many other obligations. As they get older and gain more independence, we can struggle with mixed emotions. Our children no longer need us for their basic necessities, and we may experience a sense of loss over their childhood ending.
The Tween and Teen Years
Getting into the tween and teen years often brings challenges like mood swings, peer pressure, technology addiction, and risky behaviors.
Parents may feel like they are losing control or connection with their kids as they push for more independence. However, it is critical to maintain open communication, set clear rules and expectations, and remain involved in their lives. Although they may not show as much affection, teens still need their parents’ love, support, and guidance. Speaking to a therapist during this time can help parents work through their concerns and find strategies for setting appropriate boundaries.
Parenting is a Learning Process
It’s important to remember that parenting is an ongoing learning process. Feeling overwhelmed, anxious, stressed, and depressed is normal. These feelings don’t mean you’re a terrible parent; they mean you are a parent. No one is perfectly prepared; parents must constantly learn and adapt as their children grow. Mistakes will no doubt be made, but the aim of every parent should not be perfection. In fact, our children need to see us make mistakes and own up to them. This will show them that it is okay to make mistakes as long as they take responsibility for them and change their behavior for the proper outcome the next time.
Changing Responsibilities
The key message is that while parenting responsibilities change and increase over time, the core goal remains the same: to raise children who become well-adjusted, independent, and caring adults. By adapting to each stage of development, setting appropriate boundaries, and practicing self-care, parents can navigate parenting challenges with more patience, understanding, and grace. The parenting journey is a lifelong learning process, but the rewards of seeing our children grow into responsible, caring adults make all the effort worthwhile.
Therapy for Parents in Atlanta, GA
Speaking to a counselor or therapist can provide guidance and support for parents at every stage of their child’s development.
At Atlanta Specialized Care, our therapists are trained to help with changing responsibilities parents face throughout their children’s life. We work with our clients to help them deal with the emotions being a parent can bring up.
Contact us at (770) 815-6853 to schedule an appointment.
