Living a busy lifestyle can quickly lead to an overwhelmed parent. Life with children can get crazy, and a parent will feel like they are pulled in a million directions. With a never-ending to-do list, it can be hard to take a break and recuperate. You have to find time for yourself, however, so that you can recharge and be the best parent possible.
These quotes to help the overwhelmed parent feel better will help you during the most challenging times. Remember them the next that you feel overwhelmed or when your busy lifestyle spirals out of control.
Fifteen Quotes to Help the Overwhelmed Parent Feel Better
1. “It is not what you do for your children, but what you have taught them to do for themselves that will make them successful human beings.” – Ann Landers
When you feel overwhelmed, take a step back, and think about what you can stop doing for your kids. Begin teaching them to do things for themselves, and your stress will decrease.
Kids are capable of so much more than we give them credit for. Having them do things for themselves isn’t a bad parenting technique. Instead, it’s setting them up for independence later on. Plus, it will take some tasks off of your to-do list, making you feel much less overwhelmed.
2. “There are times when we stop, we sit still. We listen, and breezes from a whole other world begin to whisper.” – James Carroll
Sometimes, when you feel overwhelmed, sit quietly for a short time. Listen to all of the sounds of the world around you and bask in the serenity. Parents need to take this quiet time for themselves so that they can regroup.
3. “Women, in particular, need to keep an eye on their physical and mental health, because if we’re scurrying to and from appointments and errands, we don’t have a lot of time to take care of ourselves. We need to do a better job of putting ourselves higher on our own ‘to do’ list.” – Michelle Obama
Parents can quickly become overwhelmed by the never-ending expectations placed on them. They have to rush from appointments and errands to picking up children or going to work. There is never enough time for them to relax and take care of themselves.
This pace can lead to an overwhelmed parent, however. If you reach this point, you won’t be able to give your all to your children, either. You must take time for yourself, even if it is just a couple of minutes at a time.
4. “Nothing you do for children is ever wasted. They seem not to notice us, hovering, averting our eyes, and they seldom offer thanks, but what we do for them is never wasted.” – Garrison Keillor
While you may feel like your kids aren’t grateful for all that you do, they indeed are thankful. Even if they don’t show it now, they will when they are older, and you’ll realize it was all worthwhile. Each act you do for them is shaping them for the future. Remind yourself of this when you feel overwhelmed and that your efforts do not make a difference.
5. “You are worth the quiet moment. You are worth the deeper breaths, and you are worth the time it takes to slow down, be still, and rest.” – Morgan Harper Nichols
It can be challenging for parents to take a quiet moment for themselves. You may think that time would be better spent on someone else, but your self-care is just as important.
Take this time for yourself when you’re feeling overwhelmed so that you can return to your tasks refreshed. Remember that you can’t give your all if you are burnt out and overwhelmed. By taking care of yourself, you are taking care of everything and everyone you are responsible for.
6. “The quickest way for a parent to get a child’s attention is to sit down and look comfortable.” -Lane Olinghouse
While this one doesn’t offer advice on how to stop being overwhelmed, it will still make you feel better. It shows that you aren’t alone in the struggle, as Olinghouse explains. Try to find the humor in this even as you feel overwhelmed, and it’ll make the task a little easier.
7. “Your kids require you most of all, to love them for who they are, not to spend your whole time trying to correct them.” – Bill Ayers
When you are feeling overwhelmed, your kids are probably feeling it too. Take this as a sign that you should back off a little. Not that you are wrong, but to give yourself a small break.
Both you and your child will feel better when you do this. Instead of correcting them, spend quality time with them and bask in the joy of who they are. This habit may help correct their behavior, too, making it a benefit no matter how you look at it.
8. “It’s okay to take time for yourself. We give so much of ourselves to others, and we need to be fueled both physically and mentally. If we are in balance, it helps us in all our interactions.” – Faith Hill
Not only is it okay for you to take time for yourself, but you also know that you should! Parents need this time, or they will struggle to take care of all their responsibilities. You have to find balance in your life, and this involves taking care of yourself.
9. “Being a mother is learning about strengths you didn’t know you had and dealing with fears you never knew existed.” – Linda Wooten
This idea is accurate for fathers, as well. Being a parent means you have to develop in ways you never expected.
You will become more assertive in ways you never imagined. Plus, you’ll realize there are more things to fear than you ever imagined, too. When you are feeling overwhelmed, remember that you are developing and growing in ways, you wouldn’t otherwise.
10. “There’s no way to be a perfect mother and a million ways to be a good one.” – Jill Churchill
No parent is perfect, and you shouldn’t strive to be. Give yourself some grace and know that you are a good parent, even if you aren’t perfect. When you strive for perfection, it becomes incredibly overwhelming.
11. “A mother is she who can take the place of all others but whose place no one can take.” – Cardinal Mermillod
No one can replace a mother, but a mother can replace anyone else. As a parent, you already know this, and this is the reason parents often feel overwhelmed. When you are expected to fill all roles and be the leading person for your child, you might have struggles.
Just know that you are the most crucial person in your child’s life. While it is an overwhelming task, it is a unique and wonderful gift to receive. So take a deep breath and remember that you have someone who loves you like no other.
12. “You’re always going to wonder if you’re doing things wrong, but that’s what it means to be a mom, to care so much about someone else that you just want to be as perfect as possible.” – Naya Rivera
It’s only normal to question your parenting. You will always wonder if you are doing it right, but there is no way to do it correctly. You don’t have to be perfect, either. You have to do your best.
13. “Giving grace to yourself is never more important than when you became a mother.” – Whitney Meade
As a parent, your little ones will pull you in many different directions at once. You will feel like your to-do list is never-ending, which will be incredibly overwhelming. Remember that you don’t have to do it all, and you don’t have to be perfect. As Meade explains, you have to give yourself grace.
14. “If every mother in the United States could wrap her mind around her true value as a woman and mother, her life would never be the same. We would wake up every morning excited for the day rather than feeling as though we’d been hit by a truck during the night. We would talk differently to our kids, fret less about our husbands’ annoying habits, and speak with greater tenderness and clarity. We would find more contentment in our relationships, let mean remarks roll off our backs, and leave work feeling confident in the job we performed.” – Meg Meeker
Parents are the most valuable people on this earth. When you realize this, you will feel much less overwhelmed. Your kids value and cherish you–even if they do not know this yet! They will never replace you.
15. “Talk to yourself like you would to someone you love.” – Brene Brown
You are just as important as those you love, and you can’t take care of them if you aren’t doing well. Stop the negative self-talk and remind yourself of how amazing you are.
Final Thoughts on Quotes to Help the Overwhelmed Parent Feel Better
If you are an overwhelmed parent living a busy lifestyle, you can likely relate to these quotes. It’s essential to take time for yourself when you are feeling this way. Remember these quotes to help the overwhelmed parent the next time your busy lifestyle gets to be too much. They’ll help you get through the hard times and remind you that you aren’t alone.
