by Shaquanah Watson

Stress management is an important skill for any parent to master but is it especially important for parents of children with disabilities. As a parent of children with developmental delays and/or a disability can come with some unique challenges. Here are some ways to begin your stress management journey that you can model for children and adults:

Positive Thinking – What you think is what you live, it all starts in the your mind: think positive thoughts even when you get negative results.

Keep realistic standards – Sometimes we can be very hard on ourselves. It is OK to ask for help from your peers. Its OK to say no. Saying no can be so hard for parents because we feel so responsible for everything; for an easier approach try “thank you, I appreciate that you thought of me, but I can’t host the PTO meeting this month.”

Take care of your physical needs – A little cardio or Yoga for 30 minutes a day is really a big help. It gives you time to wind down and relax your mind from the events of the day. I recommend you do it before you go to bed for a better sleep pattern.