Pulls and Pushes: Kim on Dealing with Stress

I worry, too, about how to teach my kids — especially my more internal/sensitive one — how to cope when it can feel elusive to me.  I often wish for an in-home child psychologist or a more easy going nature myself.  I fight not to pathologize her normal but quirky nature, not to worry over who she is, but to be aware of the extra skills she might need to develop to be able to sustain her own self in the 21st Century world she lives in.  And, the whole “radical self care” thing that makes so much sense and makes no sense at all pulls and pushes at me.  How much “modeling” is the right amount, and when do they just need me present, stressed out and all? 

I also wonder how families under so, so, so much more stress than mine cope.  To be homeless, hungry, etc.  - that must make parenting so much harder.  I also wish children could have a warm-fuzzy blanket of protection, for at least the first 10 years — I wish that could be our national priority!  (they’d still have so much stress to contend with, just fighting back id to make room for ego).