Supporting those faced with loss Kanthi Perera, Senior Social Worker 2005 Churchill Fellow.
WHW: Supporting Loss
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ARE PARENTS SUPPORTING WOMEN WHO: Parents are the frontline workers. They nurture and support, supervise and teach healthy habits, make sure their child is safe and supported, and help their child get the education and health care that they need. Regardless of whether they’re new parents, stay-at- home parents, single parents or working parents, one thing that’s for sure is that they're all in need of support! "Parents need all the help they can get. The strongest as well as the most fragile family requires a vital network of support." -Bernice Weissbours There are three different kinds of support that you can provide to parents: Practical support- this consists of providing help with day-to- day realities such as cooking, cleaning, transporting, and babysitting. Personal support- consists of being willing to listen to them, share ideas, and talk openly in a safe environment. Informational support- providing them with accurate and qualified resources. For example the CDC's Parenting Information. 1. 2. 3.
Transcript of WHW: Supporting Loss
ARE PARENTSSUPPORTING WOMEN WHO:
Parents are the frontlineworkers. They nurture andsupport, supervise and teachhealthy habits, make suretheir child is safe andsupported, and help theirchild get the education andhealth care that they need.Regardless of whetherthey’re new parents, stay-at-home parents, single parentsor working parents, one thingthat’s for sure is that they'reall in need of support!
"Parents need all thehelp they can get. Thestrongest as well as themost fragile familyrequires a vital networkof support." -BerniceWeissbours
There are three different kindsof support that you can provideto parents:
Practical support- this consistsof providing help with day-to-day realities such as cooking,cleaning, transporting, andbabysitting. Personal support- consists ofbeing willing to listen to them,share ideas, and talk openly ina safe environment. Informational support-providing them with accurateand qualified resources. Forexample the CDC's ParentingInformation.
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New Mother's
Working Mother's
SUPPORTING MOTHERS INTHEIR DIFFERENT ROLES
Whether you just had a new baby, arebecoming a step parent, or arewelcoming a foster child into yourhome for the first time, being a newmother can be overwhelming to saythe least. Here are a few ways youcan support new mother's as theynavigate their new family dynamic.
Stay-at-Home Mother's
Juggling work and family life is noeasy feat, yet working mom'ssomehow manage to achieve thatwork-life balance each and everyday. Check out a few ways you can help lighten the load of the workingmoms in your life.
From shuttling children to and fromactivities, making sure the home isclean, and mouths are fed, stay-at-home moms work an average of 92hours a week. With all of the constantcaring for others, these mother'soften forget to care for themselves.Below are a few ways you can supportthe stay-at-home moms in your life.Often times people bring over
gifts for the new child. Next timetry showing up with a gift formom as well!Avoid giving unsolicited adviceunless explicitly asked for.Avoid drop-in visits. Have themother let you know when she isready for visitors.When she is ready for visitors,show up with a meal or somegroceries!
Help her avoid burnout by offeringto watch the kids so she can getsome 'me time' in. Find and share activity ideas to dooutside of the home.Take an unexpected to-do off ofher list.Send a note of love andappreciation.Take her out for a fun date night.
Practice flexibility when it comes toher schedule.Be patient with her as she worksthrough integrating her work andpersonal lives.Provide her with or help her findchildcare.Check in consistently to understandspecific ways you can help herachieve work-life balance.Recognize and articulate the valueshe brings to both the home andworkplace.
Single Mother'sBeing the sole caretaker of a child orchildren can be exhausting. Not onlyare single mother's needed to providefor every financial, physical, andemotional need of their child, but theyalso do so without the help of apartner. Here are a few ways you canprovide the single mothers in your lifewith much needed support.
Round up any gently used clothesyou and your kids have outgrownand pass them along.Treat her to a night out-whetherthats going to dinner, sendingover delivery food, or taking herto get a mani/pedi.Help her create a back up plan incase something out of her controloccurs.Take care of her yard or home.
