When Parents Suffer...children suffer, too

It's a cliche by now that children are affected by what goes on in the home, especially marital strife. Too often, however, we don't realize that our mental health is a priority. We assume that if we keep doing "what we're supposed to be doing" for the kids, how we feel about ourselves and our lives doesn't make a difference.

Research disproves that assumption. "If a child has a depressed mother he/she runs a higher risk of having behavioral problems and injuries, according to an article in Injury Prevention (BMJ)."
These findings held for all socio-economic and educational levels.

It's possible that a depressed mother may not be supervising her children sufficiently, says the article (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/90674.php).

But I'll go further. When a mother is depressed, she may be watching her children but still missing the signals that spell trouble until it's too late. Alternatively, the child may be acting out more because that's the easiest way to get attention. The mother's self-esteem may be so low that she's overwhelmed by her child's mis-behavior and inadvertently reinforces it.

A mother, or "mothering" parent, is the linchpin of the family. We need to do more to support her and encourage her to take care of herself.