Parent Stress Limits Parental Warmth

Just for today: decrease the stress and increase the warmth.

Research tells us time and time again that parental warmth is the single most important quality that serves as a protective factor during times of stress for a child.

Parental warmth is almost nonexistent when Mom and Dad are caught up in the adult struggles with litigation, financial concerns, competition for parenting time and all the other distractions from being present to your child in this moment.

Wake up every morning and concentrate on making a plan for 1 hour over the course of the entire day focused just on your child. Then move into your day with the intention to be present to your child without distraction each time you talk to them or interact with them.

Concentrate and focus in the moment. Spend 1 hour a day just child-focused and playing.

What is parental warmth?
1 Calm behavior.
2 Kind attitude.
3 Thoughtful gestures.
4 Focused attention.
5 Loving and nurturing words.
6 Affectionate touch.
7 Genuine conversation.

We can only live one day at a time.

Our children can't wait until we do that one magical thing that will make it all better.

Don't wait to share moments of parental warmth toward your children. And certainly don't wait for those moments to magically appear. Make it happen. You are in control of your child's emotional and mental well being. You are responsible.

So if you cannot practice those 7 attributes of parental warmth, get some therapy or education or support! You deserve it and your child absolutely needs it for survival.