Moms, YOU ARE NOT ALONE in
feeling stressed about the inevitable challenges of your child hitting puberty! It's real and here's WHY:
A recent study published in Developmental Psychology finds that maternal depression is actually most common among mothers of middle school children as they catapult into the tween years.
They discovered that the years surrounding the onset of adolescence are among the most difficult times for mothers. During this period of transition, women can feel lonely, empty and dissatisfied with their mothering roles. The researchers also found that compared to mothers of infants, these women experience the lowest levels of maternal happiness and are even more stressed out than new parents.
🙄It's also a time when kids catapult into puberty. Hormones surge, while affectionate hugs are replaced with eye rolls and dismissive behavior. Most moms aren't ready for such a seismic shift in behavior.
Psychiatrist Dr. Louann Brizendine, a professor at the University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine says, "In addition to the hormonal swings that accompany our children's tween years, women's hormones are shifting as perimenopause begins."
This all sounds like the making of a PERFECT STORM, right!? That's why it's imperative that you surround yourself with other moms who are experiencing these changes as well. Do you remember when your kids were toddlers and you shceduled playdates? What FUN! Well, now you need to scheduled times to be with other moms and their daughters, so you can get through this together and support each other!
❤️Here’s the TAKEAWAY: You may have lost a foundation of support when your "mom friends" disbanded as everyone's children grew older. Starting or finding a group of moms like the one that guided you during the early years of parenting can help. It’s important to have friends to lean on through this tenuous process because you still need the same validation and support you once had when you embarked on your parenting journeys!
🌻Start the journey TODAY . . . The M.A.D.E. in Him Bible Study is an excellent resource for you and your daughter! Gather a few other moms and their daughters, and begin an amazing journey of support, care, and faith!