We all know parenting can be one of the most exhausting, challenging and frustrating tasks that we will ever undertake, yet it can be the most rewarding.

As a parent you can feel pushed and pulled in many different directions. Life is often on overload so it can be complicated trying to find the space to think, to be calm and find some quiet for your own health and wellbeing.

In everyday parenting our stress response often gets triggered unnecessarily by events that are not actually life threatening due to our state of being overloaded. Our bodies are reacting to our kids spilling a drink on the floor in the same way it would react if we were being chased by a bear.

Depending on our own childhood experiences and memories, our own stress response may be more easily triggered than others. And when we are triggered, we have difficulty thinking clearly and being attentive to people around us, especially our kids. We are unable to be thoughtful in our responses, have trouble staying focused and our ability to solve problems is diminished.

As parents we all want to manage our own emotions and behaviours the best way we can in front of our kids as we know this is key to teaching them how to manage their own. But as the pressures of everyday life wear us down, we often find ourselves feeling like we are running on empty and reacting a little more than we are choice fully responding.

This term the Dungog Shire youth service will be facilitating a three-hour workshop for parents and carers of dependent children using mindfulness and other strategies to combat everyday stressors - to help you create some calm in your world. This workshop has been successfully delivered across Newcastle and Maitland Family Support Service with a great response and feedback.

WHEN: 11am and finishing at 2pm, Friday, March 29, 2019

WHERE: Dungog Baptist Church Hall, 8 MacKay St, Dungog

There is no cost to attend this workshop and lunch will be provided.

To register please email lisa@dscc.net.au or contact the youth service on 4992 1133.