Parenting can be stressful. How do you manage your emotions?

[taokat]

Parenting has been the most challenging thing I've ever done, but has also brought me the most precious rewards. It's also taught me the most about myself - how and why I tick the way I do.

It can be rollercoaster of emotions, that like our teens, we sometimes struggle to cope with. It's a conversation that I've had a few times recently - how do we manage our own emotions parenting can bring up of:

• fear
• worry
• dread
• sadness
• hurt, including seeing our kids hurting
• guilt
• shame
• doubt
• mistrust

Can you think of any more to add @lizard0812? There's a gamut of them!!

A fantastic technique @Beingme2017 suggested at the chat night was to think about how you would approach the situation if it were a friend coming to you with your worries and fears. What would you say to them and how would you encourage them to process it? I love that technique as it allows you to separate yourself from the emotion of the situation, which is what often gets in our way.

So we'd love to know -

What are your coping techniques for dealing with the emotions of parenting?