Parenting
Families are both a joy and a challenge at each stage of the life cycle. Going to work after having or adopting a baby, juggling the schedules of working parents with children and older family members, and dealing with illness or death are only a few of the many family situations that make finding a work/life balance difficult. Family Resources and the Faculty Staff Assistance Office are here to support you with the various parenting issues you may be facing.
Issues Families Face:
- Finding balance in work life and personal life
- Differing parenting styles and strategies
- Differing priorities in work life and personal life
- Time management and not having enough time
- Varying degrees of involvement in family life
Some signs that you may need some extra help as a parent:
- Arguments with your family
- Feeling at odds with your child most of the time
- Feeling at odds with your spouse or ex-spouse
- Feeling overwhelmed and exhausted
- Irritability, moodiness, anxiety, or social isolation
- Neglecting previously enjoyable activities
- Changes in appetite or eating habits
- Confusion regarding effective and appropriate discipline
Issues Children Face:
- Limited quality time and interactions with immediate family
- Lack of support during life transitions and milestones
- Adjusting to changes in family structure
- Coping with a family crisis, including illness or death
- Exposure to substance abuse
- Poor school performance
Ways that children show you they may need additional support:
- Negative attention seeking behaviors
- Persistent testing of limits
- Persistent moodiness
- Temper tantrums
- Developmental regression