Do You Need to Write Yourself a Permission Slip?

You are worn out

You work hard. You put your partner, your kid, and your work before yourself because that is what you think a grownup is supposed to do. And you're tired. Your emotional and physical health are compromised.

I talk to clients and friends all the time who feel worn thin, but they believe they don't have any choice but to keep doing what they're doing because if they don't, their world might fall apart. Their kids won't get to the doctor or the after-school activity. The laundry won't get done, the house won't get cleaned, the dinners won't get cooked.

Life is not fun. And whether we recognize it or not, sometimes we're not effective because we're running on fumes.

Parenting can wear you thin, and that's okay. In Houston, TX, dedicated therapists offer parenting counseling to provide you with the support and strategies needed to navigate this journey with resilience and confidence.

Give yourself permission to take care of yourself In her book Braving The Wilderness,

Brene Brown talks about the idea of giving ourselves permission slips. When my daughter goes on a field trip for school, I have to sign a permission slip saying it is okay for her to go. So, Brene writes herself permission slips on Post-it notes. There is something about writing down the permissions that emboldens us to follow through. It is a gentle way of saying that it's okay for us to take care of ourselves. It sounds so simple, but very few of us follow through with this.

Prioritize self-care in parenthood with Houston, TX parenting therapy. It's okay to care for yourself to be a better parent

What do you need?

I was thinking about my clients this week and the things they wanted or needed to do but felt guilty about:

  • Permission to attend a support group for herself to deal with her transgendered partner's transition, even when feeling guilty about not focusing on supporting her partner.

  • Permission to stop multitasking to slow down and focus on one thing at a time.

  • Permission to leave work at 6 p.m. every night even if some of your coworkers stay later.

  • Permission not to check work email when at home in the evenings or on weekends.

  • Permission to exercise even though it takes away from family time.

  • Permission to eat meat, fattening foods, desert, or other "bad" foods.

  • Permission to say "no" to activities.

  • Permission to sit and read a book just for fun.

  • Permission to take time out and meet with a therapist.

  • Permission to be honest with your partner about sexual fantasies and interests.

  • Permission to throw yourself a party for your accomplishments.

  • Permission to rest when you are not feeling well.

  • Permission to buy that dog you've been researching and dreaming about.

  • Permission to be silly and play sometimes.

And on and on.

Taking proactive steps is essential in effective parenting. In Houston, TX, parenting therapy equips you with the tools and strategies to navigate challenges and nurture a positive parent-child relationship.

Take action today -- It's fun!

Here is your homework: write yourself some permission slips for things your want and need in your life and sign them. Then remove guilt and instead congratulate yourself for taking care of yourself and for modeling healthy choices. The things on your to-do list will still be there when you get back, but you will have the energy to start enjoying your life again.

You are worth it. You are enough. You matter, too!

GET HELP FROM A PARENTING COUNSELOR ON HOW TO SUPPORT YOUR CHILDREN AND YOURSELF TO HAVE A BETTER EXPERIENCE AS A PARENT WITH PARENTING COUNSELING IN HOUSTON, TX TODAY!

If you are a first-time parent or feeling overwhelmed with being a parent, Wilson Counseling can help! Our Texas parenting counselors can support you as you work on having a better relationship with your children and yourself. Take these steps to get support and learn more about parenting.

  1. Give us a call today to set up a free consultation.

  2. Schedule your first appointment for parenting counseling.

  3. Get the support and help you need.

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OTHER THERAPY SERVICES WE OFFER IN HOUSTON, TX

In addition to parenting counseling, we have other mental health services that we offer at our Houston, TX counseling office. Our services are available for adults, children, and teens. For individuals, we offer Anxiety Treatment, Couples and Marriage Therapy, Eating Disorder Therapy, School and College Counseling, and Infertility Counseling. As well as Trauma Therapy, PTSD Treatment, EMDR Therapy, and LGBTQ+ Counseling. Our caring therapists also offer Family Therapy, Career Counseling, and LPC Supervision. All of these services are also available through Online Counseling throughout Texas.

If you’re ready to get started, please contact Wilson Counseling today. Together we can get you to a better place and help you navigate parenthood with greater confidence and effectiveness.

The advice in this blog is not a substitute for professional counseling.