Do you ever wake up in the morning and think about your day ahead, and wish you could just crawl back under the covers for just a couple more hours?  I am often anxious about how am I going to get through each day…there is so much to do and I wonder where I’m going to find the energy!

My son and I shared this “ah ha” moment this morning as I was trying to get him up an hour earlier than usual so he would be on time to attend music practise. While he was groggily eating breakfast, we were trying to problem solve the end of the day’s activities. He had a lot of commitments to keep–deliver and collect the papers; do homework; attend meet the teacher night; and then run to youth group—all before 6:30 p.m! Ohh did I forget… eat dinner somewhere in there…and did I mention I have two other children, work full time, and  must attend a stress-reducing  6 o’clock “ME TIME” pilates class?

Does this sound familiar? Surviving on the stress mode seems to be the new “norm”. However, I know constant stress mode is not healthy for anyone, especially children.

Prolonged stress in children can negatively affect their academic success, friendships, self-esteem, ability to communicate effectively and overall relationships with family members. As a parent, I know I play a major role in supporting my children’s emotional development. It’s alarming to me that 1 in 5 kids in Ontario struggle with an emotional, mental or behavioural disorder, and stress can be a key contributing factor.

There are two upcoming parenting workshops in Halton that focus on raising emotionally healthy children that will offer insight and provide practical strategies for parents to help support their children manage everyday stress and anxiety, and most importantly help families get out of “STRESS MODE”. Staff from local community agencies and school supports that work with families and children to promote mental health will be available to answer questions.

CHECK OUT:

Milton: Kids and Stress , October 20, 2010
Burlington: Raising Emotionally Healthy Children…practical solutions for busy parents , October 26, 2010

For more tips and hints about school and anything else related to parenting, there are many ways you can talk to one of us directly:

• leave us a comment below – we’d love your feedback
• talk to us on Twitter
• email us at haltonparents@halton.ca
• Dial 311 or 905-825-6000 for parenting information or to speak directly to a Public Health Nurse every Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Sharon

Sharon Cusson is a Public Health Nurse with Halton Region on the Elementary school Team, working with schools and families in the Milton Community. She is an accredited Triple P practitioner and has a special focus on mental health promotion in children.