Fredericksburg Parent

February 2020

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16 Fredericksburg Parent and Family • February 2020 Seven Things to Stop Worrying About DON'T LET GO: Six Things Parents Should Hold On To Parenthood changes you and while it's freeing to let go of unnecessary worry, there are some things par- ents should still hold on to. 1. Interests and hobbies 2. Your relationship with your significant other 3. Maintaining a healthy diet and exercise routine 4. Friendships 5. Encouragement of others 6. Who you are outside of your role as parents Let it Let it Go! PERSONAL EXPECTATIONS Before I became a parent, I had high expectations for myself as a mother. I had things I wanted to do and things I declared I would never do. After my first child was born, I quickly realized that I would change my perspective on most pre-child declarations. "Let go of the idea that you will be the perfect parent because it won't happen." says Aly Ridgeley, mother of twins. When parents accept that they are doing the best they can, at that moment, for their kids, they will be able to cross this worry off their list. GUILT Do you worry that you don't spend enough time with your child? Do you feel guilty you were not able to breastfeed your child or that you missed a soccer game? Do you feel bad you forgot to remind your son to grab his lunch on the way out the door? The guilt of these things and more can weigh heavily on a parent, but you have permission to let it go. It is OK if you miss a game or a school party. We all have to make choices and sometimes those choices cause unnecessary guilt. Once a decision is made, move forward and let go of the feelings of guilt. They will only rob you of enjoying the present. WRITTEN BY SARAH LYONS Worrying. It's something all parents do. I am guilty of it, especially when I lie awake at 3 am with the silence of the house ringing in my ears. I worry about what I forgot to do, what I need to do, what I should have done and what I already did. Parenting is hard. There is always something to be done, someone who needs assistance and mul- tiple things to worry about. The list is endless but may include everything from feeding your kids healthy foods, to your child's friendships, to what others think about your choices. Some worries are valid, but many are not worth the time and effort. What if we could learn to let them go? "We want it all and we want it to be perfect..."

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