Whenever you find yourself overly stressed, think about giving yourself a present, some time just for you. If you’re a single parent, you can trade babysitting with another parent, or trade a service such as cooking a meal in return for a few hours to yourself. Here are some ideas for investing in you. Take a long bubble bath, a walk, a swim or a catnap. Watch a movie or read a book. Plan your future. Investigate classes you might take or jobs you might apply for, or plan other activities you would enjoy. Spend time with a friend Talk with someone about the stress you feel, and what you might do to reduce it. Taking time for yourself will help you feel refreshed and ready to get back to parenting with enthusiasm. There’s an added bonus for your baby. You will be better at solving problems and seeing different ways to get things done. Tired minds and bodies cannot be flexible and creative problem solvers. When you take care of yourself, you are helping everyone in your family.

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