There are a million and one books, blogs and articles dedicated to raising happy, healthy children, but far fewer focus on how to find happiness as a parent. As joyful and rewarding as parenting can be, it can also be intensely challenging, frustrating and downright terrifying. From making time for yourself to surrounding yourself with positive people, here are our top 10 tips on finding that happy place as a mom or dad.
1. Enjoy the simple things.
You can look straight to your kids for help with this one! While adults often delay their own happiness—I’ll be happy when the mortgage is paid off, when my son gets into the right preschool, when I start saving for their college—kids are fully free to embrace happiness at any given moment. Give them a glass of chocolate milk, a colorful accessory or make a funny face and they’re all set! Remind yourself of the little things that make you happy and allow yourself to enjoy them wholeheartedly.
2. Make time for yourself.
What do YOU love to do (that isn’t somehow related to your work, family, kids or other obligations)? Make time for that. It’s just as important (if not more) as making sure everything is checked off your daily to-do list.
3. Let go.
As you’re a parent, you quickly realize that things don’t always go as you imagine. The kids somehow arrive at that important event covered in stains, someone gets sick at the worst possible time or that activity they loved last week? Yeah, they hate it now. In order to stay sane, it’s important to go with the flow. You can’t control the outcome of everything, so prepare as best you can and try to see the funny side in life’s little surprises.
4. Let IT go.
Yes, just one new word but a world of difference. Learning to let it go means allowing the daily annoyances, frustrations and irritations that come from being a parent to roll off your back. Received some completely unsolicited parenting advice? Let it go. Comparing yourself to someone you see as a “better” parent? Let it go. If you’re attached to having a perfectly clean house or the smartest kid. Let. It. Go. By holding on to something so tightly, you’re missing the bigger picture, which brings us to…
5. Look at the big picture.
Is what you’re so stressed about right now going to matter a year from now? Is it going to have a profound affect on your life or your family’s life? No? Then it doesn’t really matter at all!
6. Have a plan.
It doesn’t have to be set in stone, but having a guide for where you’re going in the next day, month or year immediately alleviates fear of the unknown. It’s going to change frequently and unexpectedly but it will help you sleep easier at night.
7. Surround yourself with happiness.
Happiness is contagious. Build a support system of people who make you feel positive—be it friends, family or other parents. It’s important to have people who can remind you when you’re getting too serious or whisk you off for a fun afternoon when you need it the most.
8. Stop comparing yourself to other people.
Nobody has a perfect life. Period. Focus on yourself, your family and your friends. It’s not worth driving yourself crazy to keep up with anybody else!
9. Pick and choose.
If you’re like most parents, you want to do everything perfectly, partially out of fear that not giving 110% makes you a “bad” parent or will somehow affect your kids poorly. In fact, what affects your kids poorly is having a completely frazzled mom or dad who takes so much time making sure everything is in order that they have no time for themselves. Decide on the things that mean the most to you—ensuring your kids eat excellent healthy meals or that they have a new cultural experience every week—give 110% on those things and just do the best you can elsewhere.
10. Enjoy your kids.
Take time out of the insane task of raising another human being to simply stop and appreciate who they are and who they are becoming. Every stage of childhood flies by so fast that it’s important to live in the moment.
Make yourself (and your kids) super happy today with a colorful funoogles starter pack!
1. Enjoy the simple things.
You can look straight to your kids for help with this one! While adults often delay their own happiness—I’ll be happy when the mortgage is paid off, when my son gets into the right preschool, when I start saving for their college—kids are fully free to embrace happiness at any given moment. Give them a glass of chocolate milk, a colorful accessory or make a funny face and they’re all set! Remind yourself of the little things that make you happy and allow yourself to enjoy them wholeheartedly.
2. Make time for yourself.
What do YOU love to do (that isn’t somehow related to your work, family, kids or other obligations)? Make time for that. It’s just as important (if not more) as making sure everything is checked off your daily to-do list.
3. Let go.
As you’re a parent, you quickly realize that things don’t always go as you imagine. The kids somehow arrive at that important event covered in stains, someone gets sick at the worst possible time or that activity they loved last week? Yeah, they hate it now. In order to stay sane, it’s important to go with the flow. You can’t control the outcome of everything, so prepare as best you can and try to see the funny side in life’s little surprises.
4. Let IT go.
Yes, just one new word but a world of difference. Learning to let it go means allowing the daily annoyances, frustrations and irritations that come from being a parent to roll off your back. Received some completely unsolicited parenting advice? Let it go. Comparing yourself to someone you see as a “better” parent? Let it go. If you’re attached to having a perfectly clean house or the smartest kid. Let. It. Go. By holding on to something so tightly, you’re missing the bigger picture, which brings us to…
5. Look at the big picture.
Is what you’re so stressed about right now going to matter a year from now? Is it going to have a profound affect on your life or your family’s life? No? Then it doesn’t really matter at all!
6. Have a plan.
It doesn’t have to be set in stone, but having a guide for where you’re going in the next day, month or year immediately alleviates fear of the unknown. It’s going to change frequently and unexpectedly but it will help you sleep easier at night.
7. Surround yourself with happiness.
Happiness is contagious. Build a support system of people who make you feel positive—be it friends, family or other parents. It’s important to have people who can remind you when you’re getting too serious or whisk you off for a fun afternoon when you need it the most.
8. Stop comparing yourself to other people.
Nobody has a perfect life. Period. Focus on yourself, your family and your friends. It’s not worth driving yourself crazy to keep up with anybody else!
9. Pick and choose.
If you’re like most parents, you want to do everything perfectly, partially out of fear that not giving 110% makes you a “bad” parent or will somehow affect your kids poorly. In fact, what affects your kids poorly is having a completely frazzled mom or dad who takes so much time making sure everything is in order that they have no time for themselves. Decide on the things that mean the most to you—ensuring your kids eat excellent healthy meals or that they have a new cultural experience every week—give 110% on those things and just do the best you can elsewhere.
10. Enjoy your kids.
Take time out of the insane task of raising another human being to simply stop and appreciate who they are and who they are becoming. Every stage of childhood flies by so fast that it’s important to live in the moment.
Make yourself (and your kids) super happy today with a colorful funoogles starter pack!