Parenting has its phases, ups and downs.

One of the important things that I've learnt from parenting my 10- and 8-year-old daughters, is that we, as mothers and wives, must take a break from parenting once in a while.

Let a grandparent babysit the child for a few hours while you take care of yourself.

Go for a spa treatment - body massage, manicure, pedicure, or

Go do some shopping therapy and buy a garment you've always wanted.

Better still, go get a personal trainer to help you get back into shape or

Join a woman's fitness club to increase your self-image through returning back to your pre-pregnancy figure.

I believe that only by taking care of oneself first, can mothers take care of their children, husband and others.
Through personal experience, when I am a happy mother, my children are happy and so is my husband and family.

A woman plays a pivotal role in the family.
As long as we are not to harsh about our own expectations of what parenting is, but instead acknowledge that parenting is a learning process, then life as a parent would be easier.

I have gleaned parenting tips from books and the advise from other experienced parents and it has helped. Most importantly, my church has provided strong parenting support through the parenting workshops it has conducted for the congregation. That, I feel, is the most crucial instruction as it deals with the core issues such as discipline with love, husband and wife roles and relationships, with the Bible as its foundation and Christ as the example.

I had experienced a bout of rather severe post-natal depression which caused me to feel helpless, that parenting is a chore and dead end. I am thankful that I had an aunt who saw the symptoms and changed the environment for me so that I gradually recovered from post-natal depression.

My advisc is that if you suspect that you are constantly feeling upset over little things and see no meaning in life as a parent, go see the doctor. It is better to seek medical attention than to suffer in silence.

However, I am very aware that depression holds a negative stigma and many refuse to seek medical attention or treatment and stubbornly suffer in silence. I speak from experience and thus am very concerned because a person in depression is like a frog in the well and only sees his/her own problem, escalates it and doesn't know how to get out of it.

Children are gifts from God and we are to give them the best that we can give.

May we as parents be encouraged to treasure our children and family as they are the source of our strength and motivation in our lives.

Cheers to all the wonderful mothers in the world!

- Jo Chan

Ed: We love your comments on your experiences with motherhood! Keep them coming to us at Just Woman