The daily stressors that come along with raising children can feel overwhelming and can leave many adults who fill a parenting role in the lives of children feeling isolated. The surgeon general recently called parental stress in the United States “a significant public health issue.” One way to combat the tremendous pressure and uncertainty of being a parent is to form a network of support–people you can share experiences with, ask for help and give and get practical tips for overcoming parental challenges.
Research from the Center of the Study for Social Policy found that parents find a sense of security and confidence when they connect with other parents. These connections allow for sharing joy, pain and uncertainties that come with the role of being a caregiver. This research has also found that those who have stable and high-quality support networks tend to have a positive outlook on parenting and an increased responsiveness to children. With a positive outlook comes a greater sense of accomplishment and lower levels of anger, anxiety and depression.
How to Find Support
Finding a network of support can be challenging without family and friends near you. Here are a few ideas of ways to start creating your own network of support:
- Attend school/child care events. Put the plays, performances, book fairs, math nights and all those activities on your calendar. Initially you’ll have your children in common and it won’t be long after getting involved that you’ll discover more commonalities than you thought.
- Visit local libraries and attend scheduled programming events. This is another place where others attending probably already have a few things in common with you. If there is programming that happens on a regular basis, sign up!
- Go to the park or other play complexes. Places like this allow your child to explore and make friends on their own, which can lead to you making new friends with the parents of the children they meet.
- Search online for support groups. There are lots of options on social media to find groups in your neighborhood or anywhere in the world. Joining an online support group, like our Family Matters Parent Support Group, gives you both convenience and support from other parents and specialists.
Making friends can make all the difference as you navigate parenting. Having a social support system, either formal or informal, is good for you and your child in so many ways. It can make parenting more relaxed, which will help you be healthier and better able to take look after your child.