Learn how to uncover and utilize resources to help you and your family thrive in this article by Gale McKoy Wilkins for WRAL News.
RALEIGH, N.C. — Parenting can be one of the most rewarding yet challenging journeys we embark upon in life.
A common misconception about this journey is the belief that parent resources are only for those who are struggling.
The truth is that parent support resources are for everyone, regardless of socioeconomic status or educational background. Even the wealthiest and most educated parents can benefit from guidance to navigate the complexities of raising children.
It’s essential to recognize that the decision to seek parenting support is not a reflection of one’s abilities as a parent. Instead, it’s a proactive step towards growth and self-improvement.
Many parents, especially those who prioritize their children’s well-being above all else, may neglect their own needs and hesitate to seek support. Taking care of ourselves as parents ultimately benefits our children, though.
The importance of support for parents
Recently, I read an article from The Atlantic that highlights how vital it is for parents to utilize support resources.
“American society hasn’t embraced the idea that child-rearing can or should be taught formally. Meanwhile, many parents are struggling to figure it out for themselves,” the author, Faith Hill, writes in the article. “Many people become parents without knowing much about childcare at all beyond what they saw their own parents do.”
The author argues that parenting education isn’t always accessible. Hill said that some people even associate seeking help as something only for low income, struggling parents, which equates poverty to bad parenting.
“However, the benefits of parenting classes may even go beyond individual families,” Hill said. “A community in which parents feel less shame, is ultimately going to be a better community — more interconnected, more accepting, more compassionate — for everyone, nonparents included.”
As a teen mom, I’ve faced many numerous challenges in parenting.
I remember shortly after marrying my husband we had to navigate raising our daughter while working full-time and attending college classes. We wanted to create a family-like culture, but it was hard when many of our relatives were far away!
It wasn’t until I turned towards support resources in my community that I started to find more stability in my own parenting abilities.
Finding resources for every parent
There are several strategies and approaches that can help guide parents. Resources can provide evidence-based techniques grounded in the latest research that give parents the tools needed to build strong, healthy relationships with their children.
Here’s a few resources my husband and I have found useful throughout the years:
- Parenting Classes: Community centers, schools, and online platforms often offer parenting classes that cover a wide range of topics.
- Parenting Support Groups: A parent support group provides you with the opportunity to connect with others facing similar challenges. There you can share experiences and learn from each other’s perspectives.
- Books and Articles: There are numerous books and articles written by parenting experts that offer practical advice into effective parenting techniques. I encourage you to look for resources that are based in research and grounded in evidence.
- Professional Counseling: If you are dealing with specific challenges or need individualized support, counselors can provide vital guidance and strategies.
- Online Resources: Look through websites, blogs, and forums dedicated to parenting for a wealth of information. Again, I recommend utilizing reputable sites that are endorsed by experts.
For my husband and I, parenting classes and support groups were very impactful resources. When our daughter was younger, we attended these on the weekends.
They offered a wealth of knowledge and strategies tailored to the challenges parents face at each stage of their children’s development. Research shows that both yield positive outcomes for parents and children by improving parent-child communication, reducing conflict, and enhancing family relationships.
There are many, unique challenges that come with raising children, especially teenagers.
But parents don’t need to tackle this by themselves. They can look to the many resources out there to grow and benefit their family.
Gale McKoy Wilkins is a wife, mom, grandparent and family life coach. She is the founder of Project Arrow, an evidence-based peer-to-peer and leadership program teaching middle, high school and first-year college students how to deal with trauma and crisis using life coaching. It’s the first life coaching organization in the state to receive funding from the Department of Public Instruction and the first to implement life coaching in a school setting.