Last Updated - August 27, 2025
Being a parent or carer comes with a whirlwind of responsibilities, emotions, and expectations. With so many demands on your time and energy, it’s easy for your emotional cup to fill up—sometimes to the point of overflow. That’s why it’s so important to learn how to recognise when you’re nearing your limit and to take steps to care for yourself before stress spills over.
This series invites you to pause—just for a moment—and check in with yourself. Are you feeling overwhelmed? Are critical thoughts creeping in? These are signs that you might be entering the red zone, where stress can take hold and affect your wellbeing.
TALK – Ask for help, speak to someone that is going to support you.
REDUCE – What can you stop, to help you to feel better and to ensure your cup does not overflow?
IDENTIFY – What is in your cup that is making you feel that it’s going to overflow?
PROBLEM SOLVE – The things that you are able to control.
PLAN – The next tiny steps, make it achievable to support your self esteem.
TAKE TIME – To relax and to do some thing that you enjoy!
NOTICE THOUGHTS – I’m a terrible parent, everyone else is better than me! (REMEMBER – This is a thought NOT a fact!)
TAKE A BREATH – Calm your mind and step back from the thought that you are having.
PERSPECTIVE – What would your friend say?
COMPASSIONATE THOUGHTS – “Yikes, this is stressful! All children do this at times, it’s not a reflection of me as a parent!”
