Parental stress and burnout:
As a parent you have no doubt experienced the feelings of burnout, stress, anxiety and perhaps even depression. The extent to which these feelings are apparent and disruptive to your life will vary, depending on a variety of factors. During my research, I uncovered the devasting effects of the lack of support for parents, and they varied from mild to severe, but one thing that really stuck was that parents could better support their children when they were supported. At home interventions were more consistent and family outcomes were better.
- Care for yourself
- Share a massage routine
- Touch goes both ways
One thing was strikingly clear though! And I have felt this too as a parent. The feeling of guilt when we do something for ourselves and not for our children.
Touch matters
So what sets this aside from other interventions? Touch has been shown to be beneficial for both the person receiving and for the person providing. Some studies have focused on ape families that use ‘allogrooming’ which is the process of tending to the young and older family members through touch. Grooming them, touching them, and within these family groups, stress was significantly reduced. As humans, we have an enormous amount of nerve endings within the palms of our hands, for exploration, learning, and…. For touching!
Mutual benefits:
By including massage in a routine with your child, you can both benefit from the experience. This sequence is designed as a co-regulate and reset guide. Something you can both enjoy together!