Published on
updated on
Reading 2 min.
Do you feel stressed by the obligation to always do well by your children? Or never doing enough? For a researcher specializing in emotional intelligence, it is urgent to remember a small phrase, like a mantra, that can change everything.
Am I a good enough parent? The question lurks in the minds of all those who have one or more dependent children. Presence, duties, transmission of values… The number of pressures weighing on the shoulders of fathers and mothers who wish to belong to the category of perfect parents is heavy. And several studies say so. So you are far from being alone.
Parents today constantly stressed
In a recent survey by theAmerican Psychological Association nearly half of parents surveyed reported feeling overwhelming stress most of the time. Same observation in France where in 2017 Kinder & Ipsos launched their Parent-Child Relationship Barometer. The result was a greater state of stress than expected on the part of the parents: 60% felt overwhelmed, 47% felt stressed, and more than half of the parents felt guilty about not spending enough time with their child and sometimes lacking patience. (While 70 to 80% of children reported finding their parents strong, present and encouraging). How to avoid giving in to injunctions?
The phrase to repeat every day
The answer may come from Harvard-trained emotional intelligence researcher Jenny Woo, speaking on CNBC.
“Parents today spend more time with their children than they did in the mid-1960s, but many are still plagued by guilt and worry about not doing enough In an age where excessive comparison and the quest for a perfect childhood are everywhere, it’s easy to feel inadequate while striving to be a perfect parent.“.
To get rid of stress, the expert recommends regularly repeating the simple phrase to yourself: “I’m good enough“, “I’m pretty good“.
“The phrase ‘good enough’ doesn’t mean doing the bare minimum. It’s about staying true to what matters most to you and your child’s needs, without getting caught up in unrealistic expectations of others”specifies Jenny Woo. A mantra to repeat until you are finally convinced.
Slide: 10 tips for cultivating family happiness