Mrs. Amie Crain
School Social Worker

Happy November! This month Mrs. Zeiner and I wanted to share information from the Channing Bete Company on Parents and Stress. This information is not a substitute for the advice of a qualified healthcare provider. I will be providing the first part and Mrs. Zeiner's website will provide the second part.

What is stress? It's your body's reaction to a challenge or threat. Stress can make your heart beat faster and your muscles tense.

Stress can be helpful-it gives you the energy to meet life's challenges--from job interviews to personal tragedy.

But stress can be harmful, too-your body isn't meant to run in high gear all the time. Too much stress can wear you down, physically and emotionally.

Why learn about stress? Because parenting can be a stressful job. Stress is built into family life and learning to handle stress is vital.

Some causes of stress in the family are poor understanding of children, lack of support, the myth of the "perfect family", and low self-esteem. There are other sources of family stress such as work, illness, or money that can also build up and affect the family.

When a parent is under stress, it can affect the whole family. That's because stress on a parent can lead to abusive behavior, depression, lack of structure in the home, damaged relationships, illness, and even abuse of alcohol and other drugs.

You can help your whole family by taking steps to manage stress--it's one of your most important jobs as a parent.

Please see Mrs. Zeiner's webpage for ways to manage anger and frustration, support systems, and where to get help.

You can keep stress from getting the best of you! Be aware of stress in your family by understand its causes and effects, learn more about managing stress before it becomes a problem, and seek help right away if you need it. The steps you take can help you and your family enjoy a happier, healthier home!

Enjoy the school break in the beginning of November and have a Happy Thanksgiving!

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call me at 629-9500, ext. 3 or click on the e-mail link below.

Other Places to go:

Family and Parenting Learning Articles
Children's Health Articles & Information

Email: Mrs. Amie Crain