Navigating the Noise
Parenting Through Mental Health Moments
Parenting is loud. Not just in volume, but in emotion, in worry, in pressure, and in responsibility. The noise doesn’t just come from our kids' needs. It comes from our own thoughts, our pasts, our fears, and the silent load as a caregiver we carry each and every day.
As parents, we try to power through, or maybe even IGNORE. We hold our breath, smile through the chaos, and “suck it up” because we believe our happiness shouldn't cost our kids theirs. We think, If I’m okay, they’ll be okay. But here’s the truth: mental health doesn’t work that way.
The Truth About the Tap-Out
Some days, we need to pause. To tap out. To cry. To admit that we’re not okay. That doesn't make us weak, this is what makes us human. It makes us real. Makes us understand that we need to stop and breathe.
Being consistent for our children doesn't mean being perfect. It means showing up honestly, even if we’re having a hard day. It means taking a breath instead of snapping. It means asking for help before we fall apart. And yes, sometimes it means modeling what it looks like to struggle, recover, and keep going.
Are We Passing Down Peace or Pressure?
One of the hardest parts of parenting and cargiving is recognizing that our reactions often become their blueprints. When we don’t take care of our own emotional needs, we risk passing down unspoken rules about how to handle stress:
“Don’t show feelings.”
“Push through, even when you’re hurting.”
“Keep it together at all costs.”
“This too shall pass”
“Suck it up buttercup”
But what if our kids saw us pause instead of push? What if they saw us reflect instead of react? What if we showed them that hard things happen and we can face them with compassion, not just control? What if we just share with our kids that “Sometimes we just have to do hard things”. That not everything is going to come easy. That failure is not a weakness but part of the learning process to get to where we need to go.
So What Can We Do?
Pause. Take some deep breaths before responding to a tough moment ( Or you can do what I do- step in the bathroom, lock the door and breathe).
Reflect. Ask yourself, Is this my stuff or theirs? Sometimes we’re triggered by old wounds.
Reach out. Text a friend. Journal. Find a therapist. You don’t need to figure it all out alone.
Let them see the hard stuff. Age-appropriately, of course. It’s okay to say, “I’m having a hard day, so I’m going to take a break and come back when I feel better.”
You’re Not Alone Mrs. Z Sees You
If you’ve ever felt like you’re the only one drowning in the mess of your own emotions while trying to raise emotionally healthy kids, you're not.
I wish I had all the perfect answers. But some days, I'm in the same boat. And that’s okay. We don’t always need solutions. Sometimes, we just need a moment of being seen.
So here’s your moment:
Mrs. Z sees you. Mrs. Z hears you. And maybe, just maybe, that’s enough for today.
