I’m a mom and psychologist—to make parenting less stressful, do these 5 things: 'It's a win for the entire family'

The demands of raising children have reached a fever pitch. So has parental stress.

In a survey of 3,185 adults, nearly half (48%) of parents said that “most days their stress is completely overwhelming,” according to a 2023 survey from the American Psychological Association. Three in five said the stress makes it difficult to focus, and 62% said “no one understands how stressed out they are.”

As a psychologist and co-author of “Parents Have Feelings, Too,” I’ve spent over 10 years working with parents who are overburdened by the mental load of raising young children. Some of them try to stuff down their feelings. Others blame themselves for their stress. Both approaches can leave parents feeling even more overwhelmed.

Stress isn’t a siren call to “suck it up,” or an invitation to embrace perfectionism. Rather, it’s a signal to slow down and identify how to troubleshoot the situation.

Learning how to respond when tension mounts can help. So the next time you feel underwater with your crying toddler or your unrelenting work demands, try doing these five things.