BEING a parent is one of the most wonderful and stressful jobs there is. The job of parenting has often been carried out while sleep-deprived and stretched to the limit.

If you consider how many changes having children brings to your life it isn’t unusual to feel stressed out at times.

Tips for reducing stress are:

- Talk to friends and family members that you trust that have children - it helps to know you are not the only parent to feel stressed.

- Make sure you are pragmatic and don’t have unrealistic goals – you are not a superhero.

- Be open to offers of help from people you trust.

- Plan ahead especially on work and school nights. Getting everything ready the night before can be tiring, but it will pay dividends the next morning and aid a calm start to the day.

- Use a calendar that will have space for all family members' activities and keep it up to date.

- There will be some ‘high risk’ family times; ensure you are prepared for these.

- Take care of yourself; everybody needs a break every now and then. Take time for relaxation; it is a good example to set for your children.

Working and raising a family presents lots of challenges. There will be conflicts between family and work responsibilities, but with forward planning and a bit of creativity it is do-able.

You are only human after all so be kind to yourself and those around you and celebrate the wonderful family you have created.

Next week: Preparing for the school holidays

See: www.parentandbabycoach.co.uk