Supporting parents helps children thrive.
When life feels hard, young children notice. They may not have the words to tell you they’re worried or scared. Instead, they show you through their behavior.
Maybe your toddler who was sleeping through the night is waking up again. Or your preschooler who was potty trained is having accidents. You might see more crying, more tantrums, or more clinginess than usual.
These changes can feel frustrating, and here is what could be happening: your child is picking up on the stress around them. Even babies can sense when the adults in their lives are worried or overwhelmed.
What Is Reflective Parenting?
Reflective parenting means taking time to understand what’s happening, both for you and for your child.
It’s about pausing to ask yourself: What am I feeling right now? How might my stress be affecting my child? What is my child trying to tell me through their behavior?
This might sound simple, but it’s actually quite powerful. When you can recognize your own stress and understand how it shows up, you’re better able to stay calm and connected with your child. You become what experts call a “buffer”—someone who protects your child from stress by staying steady, even when things feel hard.
But Here’s the Thing: Parents Need Support Too
You can’t pour from an empty cup. If you’re exhausted, worried, or overwhelmed, it’s hard to be that calm, steady presence your child needs.
That’s why one of the most important things we can do for children is support their parents first.
At Way to Grow, our home visitors create a space where parents can talk about what’s challenging. Sometimes, just having someone check in and listen—without judgment—makes all the difference. When parents feel supported, they can show up more fully for their children.
Why Life Feels So Hard Right Now
Many parents today are dealing with more stress than ever before. Here are just a few reasons why:
- No paid time off: Most parents in the U.S. don’t get paid parental leave. That means going back to work when you’re still exhausted, still figuring out how to care for your baby, and maybe not quite ready to leave them yet.
- Childcare is expensive and hard to find: Many families struggle to find affordable, quality childcare. Even when you find it, leaving your child with someone else can feel stressful, especially when they’re little.
- Routines keep changing: Whether it’s a new job schedule, a family emergency, or something happening in your community, changes in routine can throw everyone off balance. And when adults are stressed about these changes, children feel it too.
- Money is tight: The cost of food, rent, and everything else keeps going up. Financial stress affects the whole family, even the youngest members.
On top of all this, some families are facing additional fears right now—worries about safety, immigration enforcement, and what the future holds. All these pressures add up. And when parents are carrying this much stress, it’s hard to have the emotional energy left over to be fully present with their children.
What Can We Do Differently?
Here’s the big question: How can we as a community better support parents?
Because the truth is, telling parents to “just do reflective parenting” isn’t enough if they don’t have the basic support they need.
Real support looks like:
- Paid parental leave so parents have time to bond with their babies
- Affordable, accessible childcare so parents don’t have to choose between work and their child’s safety
- Mental health support for parents dealing with stress, trauma, or feeling overwhelmed
- Programs like home visiting that meet families where they are and build trust over time
- Communities that recognize parents’ wellbeing matters just as much as children’s wellbeing
This isn’t just about helping individual families cope. It’s about changing the systems that make parenting so hard in the first place.
A Helpful Resource: Mom Enough Podcast
For 20 years, the Mom Enough podcast has been a trusted resource for parents and caregivers. Co-hosted by Dr. Marti Erickson and her daughter Dr. Erin Erickson—both experts in child development and family relationships—the podcast offers practical advice with warmth and understanding.
Their episode “Stress and Resilience Part 2: Parent-Child Relationships as a Buffer to Stress” talks about exactly what we’ve been discussing here. It’s the second episode in a three-part series about young children and stress, and it offers real insights for families navigating difficult times.
What makes Mom Enough so valuable is how they balance the personal and the bigger picture. They recognize that parents are doing their best under tough circumstances. And they ask important questions about how our communities and policies can do better.
If you’re feeling stressed right now—whether from changes at work, worries about your family’s safety, or just the daily exhaustion of caring for young children—this episode might really resonate with you.
What We Do Together Matters
At Way to Grow, we believe that supporting parents is how we support children.
Our Family Educators work alongside Twin Cities families and children from pregnancy through third grade. We offer:
- A consistent, caring relationship you can count on
- Practical guidance and in-home curriculum on child development, literacy, and parenting
- A safe space to talk about what’s hard
- Opportunities to mee and learn with other parents and families
- Connections to resources in your community
- Support that recognizes your strengths, goals, and dreams
We also believe in the power of resources like Mom Enough to extend that support beyond our programming. When parents have access to thoughtful, research-based information delivered with compassion, they’re better equipped to make decisions that work for their families.
You Don’t Have to Do This Alone
If you’re a parent or caregiver reading this, here’s what we want you to know: Your stress is real. Your feelings are valid. And you’re not alone.
When children show us their stress through their behavior, it’s not because you’re doing something wrong. It’s because they’re connected to you. They trust you. And they’re looking to you to help them make sense of what’s happening.
But you can’t be that buffer if no one is buffering stress for you.
So please, reach out. Talk to someone you trust. Listen to the Mom Enough episode. Contact Way to Grow if you could use support. Find the resources that work for your family. Because when children feel safe and connected, they have the foundation they need to learn, grow, and thrive.
Ready to listen? Check out the full episode: Buffer or Stress? The Crucial Role of Reflective Parenting
Learn more about Mom Enough: Explore 20 years of podcasting at www.momenough.com
Need support? Visit www.waytogrow.org to learn more about our home visiting model and parent support programs.
