health
February 22, 2026
I’m a mom and psychologist—parents who are less stressed do 5 things differently: 'It's a win for the entire family'
"Stress isn't a siren call to 'suck it up,' or an invitation to embrace perfectionism," says psychologist Juli Fraga. Try doing these five things instead.
TL;DR
- Nearly half of parents experience completely overwhelming stress daily, affecting their ability to focus.
- Stress is a signal to slow down and troubleshoot, not to embrace perfectionism.
- Five strategies to manage parental stress: meet chaos with calm (mindfulness), replace comparisons with compassion (self-compassion), ask for help, express empathy, and savor positive emotions.
- Mindfulness, like deep breathing, can turn high-stress experiences into manageable moments.
- Self-compassion helps shift perspective and can lead to responding to a child's stress with kindness.
- Asking for help teaches children to depend on others and protects parental mental health.
- Empathy allows for kind responses to stress, particularly with children, fostering confidence and purpose.
- Savoring positive emotions, like a child's smile, counteracts the brain's tendency to focus on problems and strengthens relationships.
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