As parents, we often carry weight of our past traumas and experiences, many of which can be traced back to our own childhood. It is our responsibility to break the cycle, to ensure that our children do not suffer the same pain and shame that we once did. In my Medium post, “The First Shame I Felt, and Still Feel,” I shared my own experiences with shame and the impact it had on my life. Today, I want to talk about how we, as parents, can balance our mental health during our children’s early development, and why it is crucial to do so.

The first step in breaking the cycle of shame is to confront it head-on. We must examine our own childhood experiences and recognize how they have shaped our lives. This is not an easy task, but it is a necessary one. By acknowledging and understanding the roots of our shame, we can begin to heal and move forward.

It is essential to recognize that our mental health directly impacts our children’s development. As parents, we are their first role models, their guides, and their support system. If we are struggling with unresolved trauma, it can manifest in our parenting, potentially causing harm to our children. It is our duty to prioritize our mental health, not only for our own well-being but also for the well-being of our children.

Here are some strategies for balancing mental health during your children’s early development:

1. Seek professional help: If you’re struggling with unresolved trauma or mental health issues, consider seeking the guidance of a therapist or counselor. They can help you work through your past experiences and provide coping strategies for managing stress and anxiety. And the reality is: nearly everyone needs help working through either past trauma or the current difficulties of parenting – and many of us need help with both.

2. Practice self-care: Taking care of yourself is crucial for maintaining a healthy mental state. Make time for activities that bring you joy, relaxation, and a sense of accomplishment. This can include exercise, hobbies, or spending time with friends and loved ones. Love yourself – for some of us, the first step in this is to allow ourselves to be seen as somebody worthy of love.

3. Set boundaries: Establishing healthy boundaries with both your children and other adults in your life is essential for maintaining your mental health. Learn to say “no” when necessary, and prioritize your own needs and well-being. It is perfectly acceptable to decline something in order to do nothing (speaking for my fellow introverts)!

4. Communicate openly: Be open and honest with your partner or support system about your mental health struggles. Having a strong support network can make a significant difference in your ability to cope with stress and maintain a healthy mindset. Do not feel like you have to keep the struggles of parenting only to yourself; we are all feeling it, and we all need to talk more about it.

5. Educate yourself: Learn about child development and parenting strategies that promote a healthy and nurturing environment for your children. Understanding the impact of your actions on your children’s growth will help you make better decisions and avoid passing on your own traumas. A therapist or counselor can help you here, too.

6. Practice patience and forgiveness: This one is huge, and it is hard. Recognize that you are human, and you will make mistakes. Be patient with yourself and your children, and practice forgiveness when things don’t go as planned. This will help create a more positive and supportive environment for your family.

Our past experiences have shaped us, but they do not have to define us. We have the power to break the cycle of shame and create a better future for our children. We must be relentless in our pursuit of healing and growth. We must refuse to let our past traumas dictate the course of our lives and the lives of our children. We must be resolute in our belief that we are worthy of love, acceptance, and happiness – and that our children deserve nothing less.

We can change the narrative. We can rewrite our stories and those of our children. We can heal, grow, and transform.

By prioritizing our mental health, seeking help, and implementing coping strategies, we can create a nurturing and supportive environment for our families. It is our responsibility to break the cycle of shame and trauma and ensure that our children do not suffer as we once did. The shame stops here, and together, we can create a better future for ourselves and our children.