By: Kelsey Wooten, LPC
Mother’s Day is this coming Sunday May 12th. While it is a time for family get-togethers and celebration, for some, holidays that are centered around parents or parenthood can be difficult.
Some challenges include:
- Past harm or abuse
- Complicated parent/child relationship dynamics
- Adoption / foster care
- Vastly different values or opinions
- Divorce or relationship conflict
- Fertility issues / loss
- Birth trauma
- Parents or grandparents have passed and the grief around it
When there are hard feelings, grief, or conflict in or around these relationships these holidays can put a spotlight on these feelings of loss or missing out. On these holidays (Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, Grandparent’s Day) be sure to take care of yourself, mind, body and spirit.
Allow whatever feelings to surface and give them time and space to be felt before you shove them back down or numb them out.
How to cope:
- Spend time with or call those you love / chosen family
- Spend time reflecting or journaling
- Fill the day with things you love
- Engage in a task/work that will distract you
- Write your feelings out and then destroy it
- Allow yourself to grieve the relationship or have or didn’t have
Do you have a challenging emotions around your parent or being a parent? Or do you want to learn how to better set boundaries with your loved ones? Sonder’s therapists are now accepting new clients, call or email today!