Although parenting is never easy, the social and political climate we live in today certainly adds a unique set of challenges to it. The world has changed drastically due to the pandemic that locked us in our homes two years ago, and this year the war in Ukraine has really shaken our sense of security. While we are trying to keep our everyday life as normal as possible for our kids, the world moves quickly from one crisis to the next. This can all feel utterly overwhelming at times and can leave us feeling sad and lonely. Luckily the era of social distancing is finally coming to an end. We have gathered here some tips on how to improve our mental health and well-being, and reconnect with our peers ❤️.
Now, more than ever, we should pay close attention to parents' mental health, stress management and well-being. We should do our best to improve it, as parents’ well-being affects their children’s well-being as well.
Let’s look at how the pandemic has changed some of the services available to mums in Finland in recent years.
In 2020 and 2021 Neuvola and school health care made cuts in their services to serve only the most critical cases, as nurses in Neuvola were moved to work in pandemic-related tasks. According to a study conducted by THL, in early 2021 nurses reported increasing concern about the well-being of children and families when compared to the time before the pandemic. 83% of nurses working in school healthcare said that they were more concerned about the children’s well-being than they were before the pandemic. In Neuvolas 85% of nurses reported increasing concern of the children's well-being. The study also states that according to doctors and nurses, families’ financial challenges, parenting challenges, and the kids’ and parents’ loneliness and mental health problems have all increased in 2021.
The pandemic brought changes to our everyday lives, such as limiting ourselves from socialising too much, not visiting friends and family like we used to, and not travelling. Our working life has changed immensely. Parents have stayed home to work remotely, which may have caused some trouble in how well they can focus on work, and on the other hand kids who are not in daycare have had to adjust to one more parent being at home but not being able to spend time with them. Some parents have faced financial challenges due to lay-offs or loss of employment or business.
All of this has left many parents more alone and more hesitant to reach out for help, while nurses in Neuvolas and school healthcare have not been able to notice the early signs for mental health problems as the families have been out of reach.
Of course we do not yet even see all the marks that the pandemic has left in our society. It takes time to study the long term effects of this sudden change in our lifestyle, but it is absolutely essential to keep studying them in order to re-evaluate the measures taken in the past and to make better decisions in the future.
The good news is that we can all make changes in our life to improve our own and our peers’ mental health and well-being.
The following tips are based on guidelines published by Mannerheimin Lastensuojeluliitto and Suomen Mielenterveys Ry.
Tips to improve well-being
Take some time to stay away from social media and the news. Kids excel in living in the moment, especially when they are young. Let them guide you in focusing on little things in life.
Find somebody to talk to. Chances are there is someone else out there going through the same thing you are and can offer encouragement and peer support. MiB has great events that welcome all moms, and you can always join with your kids. Especially our Moms talk event series is an optimal opportunity for anyone looking to mingle with other moms.
Talk to your friends and peers, reach out to those you haven’t been able to meet during the pandemic and ask how they are doing. When you see other parents in the playground, for example, say hello and ask how they are doing, you may be the only adult contact some parents have all day.
If your kids are big enough to understand what is going on in the world right now, then make sure you allow them to talk about their thoughts and feelings in a safe environment while staying calm and encouraging.
Exercise, keep in touch with your friends and family, practice self-compassion and compassion towards others. Keep everyday life as normal as possible for you and your kids and stick to your routines.
If you need a friend or someone to talk to, don’t hesitate to join one of MiB’s events and meet new people ❤️.
References:
The writer Mari is an active volunteer in MiB International project, helping to develop more content and activities for our international mothers in English. Mari is an entrepreneur, and she lives in Espoo with her husband and two kids.
Mothers in Business MiB ry (MiB) is a nationwide network that supports career-oriented mothers in balancing work and family. MiB’s aim is to provide opportunities for skills development, networking and career advancement. Currently, the network has over 4000 members and hundreds of volunteers throughout Finland. MiB International is a project that aims to develop MiB’s modes of operation to meet the needs of international career-oriented mothers living in Finland and to engage in societal advocacy towards a more inclusive and equal Finnish working life.
