Parents of WomensStuff... what helps you manage the stresses of parenting?

I guess the one thing I started doing when I had my kid was journaling. It helps sometimes to just be able to write things out. I also have a few playlists that are ones that I turn up and drown everything else out when I need a minute.

As far as managing day-to-day stuff I have an app on my phone for to-dos, and I use my phone’s calendar to sync to both mine and my husbands phone. I’m balancing my own elementary school schedule where I teach, my toddler’s daycare schedule, our dogs and their vet and grooming needs, and my husband’s schedule changes for appointments or traveling. I need to be able to look up things quickly and also have reminders.

For the most part I haven’t found things to be overly critical, but I do find that motherhood is a competition. There’s always a jealous tone behind every compliment or comparison, or a slight sense of superiority if another kid has reached other milestones. It doesn’t really bother me, but I try to be mindful of how I phrase things. It can be touchy to mention you got pregnant on the first try, or had an oversupply of milk, or you’re so proud that your baby correctly identified the color of their shoes, or your toddler picked up potty training quickly or sleeps through the night. Sometimes people are struggling and can take it as a slight against them as a parent.