Thriving Through Parenthood: Balance, Connection, and Joy Amidst the Chaos
Written by Lucia Morace, LCSW
Are you struggling with the many, often overwhelming demands of parenting, or parenting high needs or neurodivergent children?
Do your expectations often not align with your reality, or do you feel like your partner is often on a different page (or planet) than you are in regard to parenting? Is your relationship struggling because of it?
Do you feel like there's no space for you to be an individual within your role, like you're in the trenches and you just have to “survive” it until things (magically) get better, hopefully with time?
You are not alone.
So often, parents, because of stigma or guilt, painstakingly “survive” these periods of adjustment, assuming it's just “part of the gig”, sometimes feeling immense guilt or shame for thinking and feeling the way they do. It can bleed into their self-confidence, impact their relationships and feel very isolating- even when you're doing it with someone else physically present. These may indeed feel like the toughest years of your life, as they're filled with expectations, both your own and those imposed on you, and the pressure is on to “get it right”. As you well know by now, there is no training manual for how to stay focused on your marriage or yourself when your life is changing your world is growing and evolving in ways you never quite conceptualized. These may also be the best and most important years- the ones that deepen your understanding of yourself and your connection to your partner, your children, maybe even ground you in your place within the universe.
Out of struggle we often learn who we are, what we are made of, and who we want (and don’t want) to be, but we don't have to go through it alone, asking ourselves, sometimes second-guessing every move. (After all, how much sleep are you getting??) It can be helpful to have guidance as we shift and grow, in and out of sync with our partners, to help us to refocus on each other and ourselves as individuals. You can't get these years back- do you want to do more than merely survive them?
If you’ve answered yes to any (or most) of these questions, reach out. We have specialists in couples, family and individual therapy that utilize a host of modalities to help you through this period, help you to rebalance, connect again, empower you with the skills to meet your goals as a parent and a partner, and assist you in reengaging with the reasons that you chose to this path in the first place.
As a dynamic psychotherapist, Lucia specializes in working with families and adolescents with special needs, trauma, mood issues, neurodiversity, and relational challenges. With extensive experience navigating school systems and liaising with social services, she is a strong advocate for her clients. She employs a collaborative approach, focusing on positive solutions and strategies, and is LGBTQ+ competent and affirming. She maintains availability for adolescents and parents, recognizing the high demand for effective treatment in these populations. Compassionate and focused, she works with high-conflict couples, teens with impulse control issues, and families facing life's demands, integrating various therapeutic models and techniques. As a mother of five, she understands family stress and strives to provide flexible, empathetic care.
