A psychologist reveals tips to help parents manage and improve their mental health

Want to level up your parenting and boost your mental health? Honestly, talk to other parents about parenting. I know this sounds simple, but it's really hard. We've all been up at 3:00 AM with a crying baby, convinced we're the worst parents in the world. Many of us have also been up at 3:00 AM because we feel guilty for yelling at our teenager earlier that night. Feeling alone in the parenting struggle is the absolute worst, and shame can drive us to hide our parenting messes, like the time I accidentally fed hot sauce to my baby. Here's the truth. Every parent I know, myself included, has moments when they feel like a failure. But talking honestly about those moments? That's how we break this downward spiral and discover we're not alone. Think about that last time you felt completely overwhelmed as a parent, one of those hot mess meltdowns. I want you to practice sharing one piece of that struggle with another parent. You might be surprised with what happens next. They might share their parenting disasters like. Losing track of their kid at the zoo? They might have advice that actually works. Most importantly, you'll feel the weight of that shame starting to lift. You're a way better parent than you give yourself credit for, and those times you don't feel good enough? That's just part of the job.