May 6, 2022 – With the approach of the third Mother’s Day since the pandemic started, experts are encouraging parents to prioritize self-care to combat the added parenting stressors caused by COVID-19, improve their physical and mental health, and help them show up as better parents for their children.
“Even in the best of circumstances, it’s really hard to be a mother,” said Natalie Slopen, assistant professor social and behavioral sciences at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, in a May 3, 2022 article in HealthDay. “The pandemic has presented a host of challenges that most people hadn’t imagined they would experience while parents.”
The article offered tips for mothers such as leaning on others for support and prioritizing quiet time alone to mitigate stress.
“We need to attend to our own physical and mental health,” Slopen said. She added that a mother who’s struggling can’t be the best parent she can be—which means that self-care isn’t selfish. “It’s essential for the well-being of your family members,” she said.
Read the HealthDay article: AHA News: 5 Ways to Support, Relieve and Remember Moms on Mother’s Day