As one whom his mother comforts, So I will comfort you; And you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.” Isaiah 66:13 (NKJV)
Author Sunny Sea Gold[i] shares in American Scientific Mind one last bit of research-backed advice that has resonated with her.
Secure your own oxygen mask. At the beginning of an airplane trip you will hear the safety information. You will be told about the importance of wearing your seat belt, how to fasten it, how to adjust it, and how to release it. You will be told about the location of the exit doors or windows. And you will be told that about the oxygen masks: “Should the cabin experience sudden pressure loss, oxygen masks will drop down from above your seat. Place the mask over your mouth and nose, like this. Pull the strap to tighten it. If you are traveling with children, make sure that your own mask is on first before helping your children.”
As parents, you may feel at times like you are struggling to breathe and you are no help to anyone! Much like the airline safety announcement, the evidence for taking care of your own needs first is clear, especially when it comes to addressing medical and mental health issues. According to Gold, “Mothers are more likely to either ignore or overreact to kids’ misbehavior when they are mired in depression.” As she adds, “adults with ADHD also improve their parenting skills when they get treated. All of our day-to-day health-related activities matter, too.”
It’s not just a matter of being healthy for our own good or so that we can take care of our children. A 2015 study of national health data done in the United Kingdom suggests that parents’ way of life may be just as important as genetics in passing down obesity. Another study from London showed that children who had two overweight biological parents were 27 percent more likely than other kids to be overweight. In fact, adopted children of overweight parents were almost as likely to be heavy…21 percent.
Beside taking care of yourself, remember to take care of your marriage. A healthy marriage is one of the best gives you will give your children.
Father, help me to care for myself even as I care for my children.
[i] Gold, S.S. Scientific American Mind, March 2015