You sit exhausted on the couch. All day you’ve been primarily focused on child care, family life, and the endless list of tasks that keep everything running. Your physical health and mental health have taken a back seat, and you just want ten minutes of peace. Ten. Tiny. Minutes.
But your child has other plans. They’re jumping on the sofa, singing loudly, wanting to play. “Mom, look!” “Dad, come!” Anger rises in you like a hot wave. Why can’t they understand that you have your own needs too?
Many parents around the world—across different ages, family situations, and even in other countries—know this exact feeling. Research suggests that such behavior in early childhood is completely normal, but that doesn’t make it easier in the moment.
Does this sound familiar? Perhaps you’ve experienced moments like these:
Your child ignores the nutritious food you’ve lovingly prepared.
Older children resist physical affection when you want to hug them.
Your child refuses to leave the playground although you need to get home.
The pain runs deep. The disappointment burns in your chest. Your shoulders tense, your jaw clenches. In your head, it hammers: “Why does nobody see what I need? Am I worth nothing? Must I always just function?”