Chaplain's Corner
Hi Everyone,
Let’s face it – LIFE IS CHALLENGING, and the last two and a half years certainly HAVEN’T HELPED!! We all need to give ourselves SOME COMPASSION.
Self-compassion: what is it?
Self-compassion is being kind to yourself even when things don’t happen the way you expect. It’s being aware of your feelings and treating yourself with the same warmth, care and understanding you’d give to someone you care about. It’s also acknowledging that struggles and challenges are a part of life and that everyone goes through them.
Self-compassion: why it’s important for parents
I believe that parenting is one of, if not the hardest, ‘job’ in the world!
As a parent or carer, you might sometimes be hard on yourself. You might compare yourself to other parents and judge yourself harshly. That’s natural.
Self-compassion helps you be kinder to yourself as you navigate the challenges of raising children. And this is good for you and good for your child.
For you, self-compassion supports your mental health and wellbeing. It helps you feel less stressed and anxious so that you’re better able to give your child what they need to grow and develop well.
And when you’re self-compassionate, you’re a good role model for your child. By role-modelling kindness to yourself, you’re helping your child learn that it’s OK to make mistakes, forgive yourself and try to do better next time. This helps your child develop self-compassion too.
Being self-compassionate: 3 steps
Building your self-compassion takes time and practice. Here’s an exercise to help you get into the habit of self-compassion. Step 1 - Pause and notice your thoughts. Try to spot when you’re being hard on yourself. For example, you might tell yourself you’re a ‘bad parent’ after you’ve lost your temper with your toddler. Or if your teenage child is rude and disrespectful, you might feel that you’re doing a bad job. Ask yourself: Is what I’m telling myself true? Or is it just how I’m feeling in this moment? Would I speak to a friend in this way? Step 2 - Remind yourself that raising children is a big and important job, which all parents learn as they go. We try and do what’s best for our children, but sometimes we make mistakes and we can’t control everything. It’s OK to find things hard or to need help or advice. It’s also important to acknowledge when you’re doing your best, even when you’re struggling. Step 3 - Say something kind to yourself. Think about how you’d encourage a friend in the same situation as you. You might say things like:
- I’m trying my best and I’m learning as I go.
- Other parents find this hard too – I’m not alone in this.
- It’s OK if I can’t figure it out now. I’ll try again later.
- Things have been very difficult lately, and I need to take some time out to look after myself.
You can also think about how you might do things differently next time rather than dwelling on what didn’t go well this time. For example:
- Would starting a new routine help reduce stress and conflict in the future?
- Would mindfulness or breathing exercises help you handle stressful situations?
- Is there someone you can ask for help? Your partner, a family member or friend?
- Would it help to talk things through with someone? You could try calling parenting helpline – 13 22 89 for a confidential chat.
When you are struggling with self-compassion or are very self-critical Practising self-compassion can be difficult at first, particularly if you tend to be very self-critical. Remember that even taking a moment to pause and notice how you are feeling is an important first step that you can be proud of.
If you are finding it really hard to be kind to yourself, it’s a good idea to seek professional advice. You can start by making an appointment with your GP. They can refer you to a suitable mental health professional like a psychologist or local counsellor.
IT’S LIKE THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT ADVISES - PUT ON OUR OWN MASK BEFORE WE CAN HELP OTHERS! Be kind to yourselves. When we are in a ‘good place’ our families will be in a better place too.
Hmm…. perhaps I need to give this some serious thought.
Continue to take care & stay well!
Robyn Mulholland (School Chaplain)