Parents, You Deserve Support Too—And Your Kid Needs You to Have It

When kids are struggling—maybe they’re having big reactions to small things, suddenly refusing school, or seem shut down and anxious—most parents do something really beautiful: they seek help. You rearrange schedules, navigate traffic, jump through hoops, and get your child into therapy. You make it happen.

That’s love. That’s commitment. That’s showing up.

But here’s something that doesn’t get talked about enough: your well-being matters just as much as theirs.

And we don’t mean that in a “you should be doing more” kind of way. We mean that you deserve support, too—because this job is hard, and you weren’t meant to do it all while running on empty.

This Isn’t About Perfection. It’s About Capacity.

There’s a really common belief floating around that being a good parent means putting your own needs last. That if your kid is getting to school on time and eating meals, you're doing fine—even if you're barely hanging on yourself.

But the truth is, your emotional health isn’t separate from your parenting. It’s part of it. Not because you have to be perfect, but because your child is deeply connected to you—and they naturally look to you to understand the world.

That doesn't mean you need to have it all together all the time. No one does. What it does mean is that when you're supported and steady enough to come back from the hard moments, it creates a kind of emotional safety your child can feel, even when things are messy.

Your Kid Feels You—Even When You’re Trying to Hide It

Children are incredibly perceptive. Long before they can articulate what’s going on, they’re picking up on how you are doing. They feel your tone, your pace, your tension, your quiet sighs. That’s not your fault—that’s biology. It’s just how human nervous systems sync up.

It’s called co-regulation, and it’s one of the ways kids learn to feel safe and make sense of their emotions. They borrow from your calm. And when you’re stressed or overwhelmed, their bodies pick that up too—often without any words being exchanged.

That doesn’t mean you’ve done anything wrong. It just means you’re connected. And sometimes, that connection works best when you have someone helping regulate you, too.

You’re Allowed to Need Support

Parenting is a lot. Even on the best days, it stretches you. And on the harder days—when life is chaotic, work is intense, or emotions are running high—it can feel almost impossible to access the kind of calm you want to offer your child.

That’s not a moral failing. It’s a signal that you’re carrying too much.

And here’s the thing: you don’t need to wait for a crisis to get support. You don’t need to be falling apart to justify reaching out. You’re allowed to say, “This is hard, and I’d like some help figuring it out.”

Not just for your child’s sake—but for yours.

Regulated Parents Help Kids Feel Safer

When your nervous system feels more settled, your child feels that too. It helps them feel grounded, connected, and secure in a world that often doesn’t make a lot of sense. You don’t have to be perfect. You just need access—to your own emotions, to rest, to repair, to the support that helps you come back to center when life throws you off.

And when you don’t feel like you have access to that? That’s usually when it’s time to ask for more support, not less.

In Case No One’s Told You Lately

You are doing so much. And if you’re feeling stretched thin, it’s not because you’re failing—it’s probably because you’ve been carrying more than anyone realizes, for longer than anyone knows.

You might not have the kind of support you need right now, and that’s okay to acknowledge. It’s tough, especially when you’re giving so much of yourself to your family. But your mental health isn’t a luxury—it’s a key part of what helps your family function. And it’s okay if you need a little help to get back to yourself.

You matter, too.

You don’t have to carry it all by yourself. Reach out for the support you deserve as a parent.

Willow & Moss Counseling – Trauma-Informed Care for Children, Teens, and Adults | Play Therapy & EMDR | Cherokee County, Serving Woodstock, Holly Springs, Canton, and Kennesaw