Why you feel that way and how some parents cope
Some reasons we parents are feeling so much time pressure are more work hours, longer commutes, 24/7 connectivity to a wider world, and our changing expectations about how to use our time (pressure to do everything from helping kids with homework to getting to the gym!).
The Mayo Clinic offers suggestions for ways to restore work-life balance that include "rethinking cleaning standards" and making sure to get enough sleep. To learn more about the Mayo Clinic's suggestions for reducing stress and achieving greater balance, go to www.mayoclinic.com.
One of the secrets of managing time is setting priorities.
We've asked some busy parents how they decide what is essential. Here's what they told us:
"It's hard to balance everything, and some things must simply be let go. If I practice letting go enough, hopefully, I'll only hang onto that which is worth hanging on to. Material things will fade, pass, and be replaced. People, children, moments, and experiences remain a part of us and who we become forever." Denise M., Texas, mother of three children (ages 4 to 15)
"Childhood is made up of years filled with small moments; not so different from parenthood. To me, everyday living is what matters most because this is where the fragments arise that form the whole shared experience. I recall a day when my sons had to pull me into the yard to look at the clouds. I was reading, but they were persistent. My two-year-old shut the book twice. Each time he said, "The end. All done." Then he said, "Drum!" I could not see a drum, though I tried my best. But soon enough, I found that I too could see the shapes in the sky. We discovered a castle and more drums. My children make me a better person, but the reverse is only true when I am mindful of their needs and the impact of my actions." Jamie G., Ohio, father of two sons (ages 7 and 2)
Istar Schwager, Ph.D., is an educational psychologist, mom, and founder of Creative Parents, Inc., with the website creativeparents.com. She believes that as parents we need all the support we can get.