Arizona parents face many challenges; help is one call/text away
OPINION — If you are a parent to a young child, you already know that no two parenting journeys look alike and no two days are ever the same. Since your baby was born, you have probably had many challenging days.
Maybe your baby won’t sleep no matter what you try, perhaps your toddler suddenly refuses to eat anything except crackers or your preschooler is having meltdowns that leave you wondering what happened to your easygoing child.
You might ask yourself, “Is this normal?”
The good news is that you are not alone. Every parent wonders if they are making the right decisions for their child and their family. Rest assured there is no one right way to parent. Children develop at their own pace and what works for one child may not work for another. Parents are also juggling different jobs, schedules, childcare arrangements, family circumstances and resources, which can add to the day-to-day stress of childrearing.
So, when parenting gets hard, what can you do? When something doesn't feel right, or you are struggling, it’s OK to ask for help. In fact, it is highly encouraged.
Southwest Human Development’s Birth to Five Helpline can be a valuable resource for Arizona parents and caregivers. The free helpline connects families with early childhood professionals who can answer questions about everything from sleep and feeding to developmental milestones and challenging behaviors and everything in between.
This year marks the sixth annual Birth to Five Helpline Awareness Week, Sept. 28-Oct. 3, spotlighting Arizona’s only helpline dedicated exclusively to parents of babies, toddlers and preschoolers, staffed entirely by early childhood professionals.
Parents don’t have to know exactly what they need before they call. Talking to someone who understands young children and can offer reassurance, practical ideas or suggestions for what to do next might be the perfect solution.
Sometimes, it starts with something as simple as making a connection with your child. Read a book together before bed. Talk while you’re making breakfast. Sing in the car. Get down onto the floor and play for a few minutes.
These everyday moments may not feel significant at the time, but they give young children opportunities to build language, social and emotional skills while reminding them they are safe, seen, heard and loved. Your undivided attention and positive interaction are powerful tools.
Asking for help doesn’t mean you are failing as a parent. In fact, it can be one of the best ways to support your child and your family. It can be reassuring to remember that there are no perfect parents and there are no perfect children. There are just families doing their best to support and love each other one day at a time.
Maria Lopez, LMSW is senior program manager for Phoenix-based Southwest Human Development, Arizona’s largest nonprofit dedicated to early childhood development. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.
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