Self care is extremely important as a caregiver because if you do not give to yourself, you will have nothing to give to your child. As a busy parent with a lot on your plate, you may not always have a surplus of resources, but our hope is for you to at least break even. Another point we may often forget is that children are fantastic modelers. If they see you taking time to regulate yourself, they will likely learn to do the same.

So What Can You Do?

Scheduling time for yourself can be a very effective way to refill your gas tank. In order to buy out this time, it may be helpful to contact a friend or a relative to care for your child for a few hours each month or research Respite Care. When you can, remember to connect with things that YOU enjoy, whether it's a simple hobby, some exercise, or talking with a friend. It can also be useful to go back to the basics: exercise, diet and sleep. While it may seem impossible to keep all of these things in check at once, start by looking for a way that you can improve in just ONE of these areas by 5%. Even that small 5% could be the catalyst to better overall wellness.