Bill Belew has raised 2 bi-cultural kids, now 34 and 30. And he and his wife are now parenting a 3rd, Mia, who is 8.

Hugs Relieve Stress

Parenting and less stress | An oxymoron?

Oxymoron is one of the funniest words I ever heard. It sounds like ox as in ‘moo’ and moron as in ‘dummy.’

But it’s a great word. It happens when two words that are not supposed to go together are found together.

Parenting and less stress might be a good example.

Parenting brings on stress. Most parents have never been parents before. And ALL kids have never been kids before.

Click to read => Why you shouldn’t yell at your children.

When you mix these two groups together – where neither have ever done before what they are trying to do, there’s going to be stress. A lot of it.

Here are some ways for mommies and daddies that MIGHT help lessen stress.

1. Mommies and daddies should take care of themselves, too. Be healthy. Get exercise. Be strong. When mommies and daddies are Hungry, Angry, Lonely or Tired it’s time to HALT = stop and chill a bit. A strong body helps.

2. Mommies and daddies should love each other. Daddies should show their little girls the kind of man they might want to look for when they grow up, not the kind of person they NEVER want to marry. And mommies should show their little girls how to treat daddies so I know what to do when I am older.

3. Mommies and daddies should be realistic. I can’t do everything right. And I don’t expect them to be perfect. Show me how to learn from mistakes, how to say ‘I’m sorry,’ how to try again, how to never give up.

If we can do these 3 things … there will be less stress. Maybe …

Talk to Bill and others about their experiences raising bi-cultural Japanese-American kids.