Mothers with school-aged and adolescent children deal with a lot. From the first day of elementary school to high school graduation, the demands and responsibilities of motherhood never cease. At Suffolk Counseling Services, our licensed therapists help Long Island moms navigate through these years, empowering them to be great parents while rediscovering their own inner happiness.
Addressing Important Parenting Challenges
Managing behavioral challenges – All mothers know the stress that comes with dealing with a tantrum. Then, during adolescence, tantrums can develop into acts of defiance or other potentially harmful behaviors.
Our mental health providers guide you in teaching your children healthy emotional regulation skills.
School-related anxiety – Your children may deal with academic pressure, social challenges, anxiety before tests, and other school-related stresses. Your child can get through these scenarios without feeling overwhelmed by utilizing healthy coping mechanisms.
Separation anxiety – This is a common occurrence for early learners entering elementary school. There are various ways to assist your child in adjusting to new routines and being away from you for extended periods of the day.
Other Potential Challenges
- Screen time and technology concerns
- Sibling rivalries
- Homework battles
- Encouraging independence
Supporting Yourself as a Mother
Your mental wellness is not only integral to your own happiness but also aids in being the best parent you can be.
It is common for parents to feel disconnected from their personal identity at times. As a mom, there is a good chance that you wear a lot of hats. You may be a mother, a wife, an entrepreneur, a social butterfly who plans all your get-togethers with friends, or all of the above. The point is a single role cannot identify you. We all have many aspects of our personalities and differences in the daily tasks and interactions we experience.
Parental Guilt
Between work obligations, your personal life, and being present for your child, moms can feel overwhelmed and unsure of how to manage their time. We can help you implement time management strategies that allow you to accomplish daily tasks, have a healthy social life, and still have plenty of quality time to spend with your children.
Parental Stress and Burnout
Balancing work, household responsibilities, and parenting can leave you feeling fatigued. Finding a healthy balance of daily activities can help maximize your emotional well-being.
Additional Motherly Challenges
- Marital or co-parenting conflicts
- Financial stress
- Social isolation
- Pressure to be the “perfect mom”
- Sleep deprivation
- Overcommitment
- Boundary-setting
- Coping with academic transitions
Did you know that we run a weekly virtual group therapy session, Supporting Moms With School-Aged Kids?
