In an episode of The Mum Show with host Marina Magdalena, Emma Browne and Clare Hooper joined her to talk about the hardship of being a parent and being a mom. Being a parent is the toughest and the most stressful job there is. Raising children comes with so many responsibilities and pressures.
“Parenting is the most stressful job ever,” Clare said. “Yes, it’s wonderful, yes, it’s exciting and joyful and we can have moments where it feels like a real privilege. But the reality is, it is really hard and it’s really stressful… So let’s really take a look and be aware of how full your stress bucket is right now and think what other things that I can do to try and start to take steps.”
Every parent needs to take care of themselves. They firsts need to be physically, emotionally, and spiritually well to raise their kids well. Clare shares ways on how a mom or dad can take care of themselves. The first is taking time out, having some me-time where you can just spend your undisturbed time alone with the Lord.
The second is surrounding yourself with friends. You need supportive friends to help you get through all the hardship, that is also true with parenting.
Most moms, or women in general, face criticism when they can’t be perfect in what they’re doing. That needs to be stopped right now. Women must not conform with what society tells us, we must be molded by how God designed us to be. We must hold on to the identity that Christ has given us.
“Often as women we are under this massive assault of saying, ‘Do you know what? You’ve not made the grade. You’re not making the standard, you’re not good enough.’ I think as moms of faith, it’s our job to say, ‘That ends now. That ends in my generation. I’m not letting that go any further.’”
“I’m going to know who I am in God and I’m going to make my body, make my mind, make my soul do everything I can to worship Him, to honor Him, and to rejoice in all that God has made me.”