Caring for your family is a full-time job, a full-time job on top of your other full-time job. It is no wonder that you may feel stressed and overworked sometimes. You may feel that you do not have the time you need to really get to grips with everything you need to. This can be made especially complicated when you have children as well as a parent to look after too. The good news is that when it comes to caring, it is the quality of time rather than the quantity of time that makes the difference. Identifying great ways to take care of your family while taking care of yourself is important.
Great Ways to Take Care of Your Family: One to Ones
It is important that you find the time, be it only ten minutes, to have a real heart to heart with each of your children. One of the best times for this is around bedtime when they are tucked up in bed and feeling tired, so their defences will be down. Append ten minutes with each of your children alone, and connect with them. Check that they are okay, really okay, tell them they can trust you and can tell you anything.
If you do this often enough, you will easily be able to tell if something is bothering them, and it gives you the perfect opportunity to probe. Remember that if they confide and you promise not to get angry or annoyed, you have to keep this promise, despite hope hard it may seem. That is until you come up with a solution. It is also important to do this with your partner and a parent you may be caring for too. One to ones are a great way to get to the bottom of things.
Great Ways to Take Care of Your Family: Exercise Together
Weekly walks or hikes are a great way to ensure that the kids are getting some fresh air every now and again. You could also walk to kids to school and encourage them to go to after-school classes, like dancing or football. You can even create an activity day once a week or month where everyone gets to choose an activity, and the whole family joins in. If appropriate, remember your parents may want to join in too.
Great Ways to Take Care of Your Family: Problem Solving
If your family is struggling with a few unresolved issues, get everyone together and discuss it as a family. Allowing or children to be involved in some of the decision-making will help them feel as if they have some input and that their thoughts and opinions matter. Also, you need to be honest with your parents too. If you are struggling to keep up with everything, then toll them.
You never know they may feel the same as you and be willing to use senior placement services. The more open and honest your communication technique, the better everyone in the family will be understood. And being understood and listened to is paramount to a healthy mind. No one likes to suffer in silence, and as a parent, you can avoid anyone suffering like this.
