School is in the Home Stretch; Plan Ahead for Stressful Times
Just as your car runs more smoothly and requires less energy to go faster and farther when the wheels are in perfect alignment, you perform better when your thoughts, feelings, emotions, goals, and values are in balance.
~ Brian Tracy

When you fly on an airplane, the flight attendant instructs you to put your oxygen mask on before helping others, including your child. As contrary as this may seem to doting parents, this is important. Because if you do not take care of your own needs, chances are you won’t be able to take care of your loved ones either.

This instruction is the same with every aspect of your life. As a parent, you need to get enough oxygen as well as nourishment, water, sleep, exercise, love and socialization in order to be in balance – what experts call “self care.”  It is all too easy for parents to get caught up in the routines and obligations to others that fill our lives and to forget to prioritize ourselves. If the stress of your daily life causes you to turn to alcohol, drugs, inappropriate behavior and rash decisions, take a moment to breathe, to think, to reset your inner compass. Our children are watching us for clues on how to handle life when cabin pressure falls.

What a better world we would all live in if we were all completely balanced. CV Alliance recognizes this goal is lofty; still, we strive to promote assets for parents and young people to enhance the quality of the lives we currently lead.


Julia Rabago is the program director for CV Alliance

  julia rabago