Parent Mental Health: A Priority, Not an Afterthought

February 09, 2026 / By: Dr. Megan Arends

Parent Mental Health: A Priority, Not an Afterthought

If you’re a parent, you’re likely carrying far more than anyone can see.

Parenting today is not just about caring for your children. As a parent, it can feel like you’re a caregiver, manager, problem-solver, provider, and emotional anchor all rolled into one. At times, you may find yourself juggling responsibilities that feel never-ending while simultaneously trying to keep everyone, including yourself, afloat.

While parenting can be deeply meaningful and rewarding, it is also demanding, exhausting, and emotionally complex. Many parents move through their days holding it all together on the outside while feeling depleted, overwhelmed, or isolated on the inside. If that’s you, you are not alone.

Parents are people first. Your needs matter too.

As the saying goes, you can’t pour from an empty cup. And while many parents try- out of love, obligation, or survival- it rarely feels sustainable and certainly isn’t health-promoting. Taking care of your mental health isn’t indulgent or selfish; it’s foundational. When you care for your own emotional well-being, you support yourself while creating a healthier environment for your children and your family as a whole.

As a clinician who works with children, parents, and families every day, I get it, and I see you. Below are a few steps you can take to help you begin taking hold of your mental health and start feeling like “you” again.

1. Accept Help: Many parents feel pressure to do everything themselves. Accepting help, whether from a partner, family member, friend, or professional, reduces emotional overload and builds sustainability. Letting others support you doesn’t make you less capable; it makes parenting more manageable.
2. Lower the Bar (On Purpose!): The expectations placed on parents today are often unrealistic and relentless. Lowering the bar isn’t giving up- it’s responding honestly to your capacity. Some days, “good enough” truly is enough.
3. Name the Invisible Work: Much of parenting happens behind the scenes. The invisible labor is real and exhausting. Naming it out loud can reduce resentment and help others better understand how to support you.
4. Schedule You Time: If you make time for everyone else’s needs, you can make time for yours too. Rest, movement, connection, and quiet moments don’t happen by accident- they happen with intention. You are allowed to take up space in your own life.
5. Self-Care Is Not Selfish: Self-care doesn’t have to be elaborate or time-consuming. It can look like setting boundaries, taking a few deep breaths, stepping outside for fresh air, or choosing rest when possible. Small, consistent acts of care help regulate your nervous system and allow you to show up more grounded for your family.
6. Embrace Imperfection and Allow for Self Empathy: Parenting is a constant learning process. Mistakes don’t mean you’re failing, they mean you’re human. When self-criticism shows up, try replacing it with compassionate reminders: This is hard, and I’m doing my best. I’m allowed to learn as I go.
7. Seek Professional Support: Therapy, parenting support, and community spaces offer a place to process overwhelm, guilt, and emotional triggers without judgment. Reaching out for support doesn’t mean something is wrong, it means you’re caring for yourself in a meaningful way.

Final Points: Parent mental health is essential. Caring for yourself, accepting help, and seeking support are acts of strength, not weakness. When parents are supported, children benefit, families grow stronger, and no one has to struggle alone. You got this!

About The Author: Dr. Megan Arends