Even Burned Out, Kids Needs You

You may be a burned out parent.

You can recognize it by giving into your kids’ demands while complaining they don’t listen.

You may find yourself trying to buy their understanding and reasonable behavior while thinking they are ungrateful and/or spoiled.

You may be seeking help for them, hoping someone else can either talk some sense into them or help them see how good they’ve got it.

Thing is, you’re likely tired, exhausted.

You may be struggling to make ends meet. Your work may be demanding or precarious. Your housing may cost a fortune leaving you with litte left but fears.

Being burnt out there can be little capacity left to manage the kids. However, there just is no substitute for you, your setting of limits, boundaries and expectations.

That. That is love in action.

That signals to your kids that you care. Truly care.

That is your attention to their lives.

When you give in or try to buy them off, they won’t tell you this, but they feel less safe and less valued.

They need your setting of limits, boundaries and expectations, no matter how much they resist.

They may not be used to it. They may be holding a grudge thinking too little too late. They still need it. They still need you.

I know. You are burnt out.

You still matter.

You matter to them.

They need you.

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I am Gary Direnfeld and I am a social worker. Check out all my services and then call me if you need help with a personal issue, mental health concern, child behavior or relationship, divorce or separation issue or even help growing your practice. I am available in person and by video conferencing.

Gary Direnfeld, MSW, RSW

gary@yoursocialworker.com
www.yoursocialworker.com for counseling and support

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Gary Direnfeld is a social worker. Courts in Ontario, Canada, consider him an expert in social work, marital and family therapy, child development, parent-child relations and custody and access matters. Gary is the host of the TV reality show, Newlywed, Nearly Dead, former parenting columnist for the Hamilton Spectator and author of Marriage Rescue: Overcoming the ten deadly sins in failing relationships. Gary maintains a private practice in Georgina Ontario, providing a range of services for people in distress. He speaks at conferences and workshops throughout North America. He consults to mental health professionals as well as to mediators and collaborative law professionals about good practice as well as building their practice.