Parents Are Not OK

ICYMI, the US Surgeon General, Vivek Murthy, issued an unprecedented advisory last week about the mental health of parents. For the first time, parents are SEEN on a national level!

Dr. Murthy urged employers and governmental leaders to take meaningful steps to alleviate some of the stressors that parents and caregivers experience. Recommendations like:

➡️ Paid parental leave

➡️ Flexible schedules

➡️ Affordable child care

➡️ Improved mental health care

➡️ Community support programs.

Do you think these recommendations will actually realize? Head to the comments below, and share ways that you want to be supported as a result.

Plus, if you want to take a breath for some “me time” (hey, the Surgeon General is emphasizing mental health!) dive into our September Must Reads 👇🏻. 📖

You’re doing good, mamas!

-Paula (Founder, CARRY™ Media)

 This week in The CARRY™ ALL, we’re talking about:

• ⏰ How to Ask For a Flexible Schedule

• 🧘🏽‍♀️ Tips for Improving Mental Health

• 📞  Parents Helping Parents

THE BIG 1️⃣ 2️⃣ 3️⃣

1️⃣ ⏰ How to Ask For a Flexible Schedule

In his warning, the Surgeon General urged employers to offer paid parental leave and flexible work schedules to support caregivers in the workplace. But, for now, it’s really up to us, as parents, to advocate for it. Here are some tips on how to ask your boss for a flexible schedule that will work for you and your family, including asking for a trial period.

2️⃣ 🧘🏽‍♀️ Tips for Improving Mental Health

Dr. Murthy’s advisory went into depth on the importance of focusing on mental health, including maternal mental health. (In fact, the term “mental health” was mentioned over 150 times throughout the document!) He encouraged governments and employers to ensure that parents and caregivers have access to comprehensive and affordable high-quality mental health care. In the absence of such care in the interim, here are some ways to improve your own mental health, including focusing on your physical health, connecting with others, and practicing gratitude. And while social media is in no way a form of therapy, there are several therapists who have focused on making their knowledge and tools more accessible. You can find some to follow here.

3️⃣ 📞  Parents Helping Parents

No need for a news flash: parenting is HARD. In the absence of community support (which is another tenet of Dr. Murthy’s recommendations), there are ways for parents to find a safe space to vent, connect with others, get support and have their questions answered. We love the resource Parents Helping Parents, which offers countless ways to connect, including a Parent Stress Line. You don’t have to carry it all!

BEEN THERE, DONE THAT 🤎

for working moms with older children

• Creating core memories when kids are younger can be pretty straightforward - take them somewhere new and awesome, be present, and watch as their little minds practically explode from awe and excitement. But creating core memories with older kids can be slightly more complicated. That’s why we love this mom’s idea for a trip with her 16-year-olds. The best part? Incorporating important lessons like saving money and learning a language! 🌎

• Emotions (and sometimes tempers) can run high in our teens as they continue to figure out how to be independent in the world, all while their hormones run amok. But understanding how to parent them while they do this can be a proverbial nightmare. This article has some solid tips for these situations: Listen and Repeat. Note that the advice didn’t include trying to calm them down or offer advice? 🤯 Check it out.

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