How to reduce stress on your parents
shitzhu00 asks: My mom is going through a lot of stress right now and is struggling with money. My siblings and I aren’t the best children, but what happens if she suddenly comes home with a bottle of beer in her hand and becomes an alcoholic? What would I do then?
Hi shitzhu00 –
I think you’re really asking me two questions. The first is how best to deal with your mom’s stress.
I actually have two different answers to that one, which will sound like they completely disagree with each other. One is to do everything you can to reduce her stress and not add to it. The second is to accept that you can’t fix it, and allow that you’ll add to her stress at times and that’s okay.
Adults get stressed a lot, and kids add to it in every way. They have to make more money to pay for their kids’ needs, and they come home to whatever issues the kids are going through. Life is tough enough with 24 hours a day of stress, but when you add kids in, it can seem more like 50 hours a day! So it’d be great if you could do what you can to lower her stress level. If, when she asks you to do something, you do it the first time she asks, that can do wonders. If you can keep your room clean, do your chores, and do your homework – all without her having to remind you, you’re a dream. These are great things that really make parents’ lives easier. Oh and try to keep from getting into too much trouble outside of home too!
But at the same time – she knew what she was getting into when she Continue reading