Why Your Happiness Matters with Ericka Souter

Parenting is hard. But being a parent doesn’t mean you have to stifle your most basic wants and needs. It doesn’t mean it has to consume you to the degree of self-sacrifice and martyrdom and you definitely don’t need to lose yourself to be a good parent. Ericka Souter, author of How to Have a Baby and a Life on why being good for our kids has to become synonymous with being good to ourselves.  If you are not happy, your children know it, moreover children suffer if the people taking care of them are not taking care of themselves. Mothers who feel depressed are more likely to have children who act out or have other behavioral problems.  Researchers say that a mom’s satisfaction with her life is more important to a child’s social and emotional skills than how much money she has, the amount of time she spends with them, or whether she is working or a stay-at-home mom. SOME KEY POINTS Why you need a village and how to cultivate support for yourself  When it comes to friendships quality over quantity  The 3 conditions for lasting relationships  The surprising truth about sexless marriages and how to have more sex How despite progress, women still bear heavier load than men in balancing work and family How not having a child should be an option too What do women talk about at NotMom Summit  Why the parents in US proved to be the most miserable in the world OTHER EPISODES YOU MAY ENJOY 64: Why You Should Let it Go And Be Happy 72: From Coping to Thriving: How to turn Self-Care into a Way of Life   97: Why You Might Be Feeling Tired, Negative and Overwhelmed 147: What Does Self-Care Really Mean  144: Mommy Burnout BECOME A SUPPORTER OF THE SHOW You can choose a level of support on Patreon.com by becoming a patron. One time donations are also deeply appreciated. Give from the heart now.   FULL SHOW NOTES www.authenticparenting.com/podcast    OUT SPONSOR  Athletic Greens is offering my listeners a FREE 1 year supply of Vitamin D and 5 free travel packs with your first purchase. Simply visit athleticgreens.com/authenticparenting   ABOUT ME I help overwhelmed, frustrated parents who want to parent differently than their parents, make sense of their early childhood experiences, connect to their authentic self and their children on a deeper level, reduce stress, bring more ease, calm and joy into their lives by yelling less, and practicing non-punitive discipline.   WORK WITH ME Listeners of the podcast get 10% on my coaching services.  I would be thrilled to support you in your parenting journey! Click here to get started with my Introductory (3 Sessions) Package or REAL Change Package - 6 Private Coaching Sessions Court-Ordered Parenting Classes (in person NJ, NY,and PA residents only)    YOUR FEEDBACK IS VALUABLE! Do you have a comment, question, or a takeaway about this episode or the podcast in general?   USA listeners call 732-763-2576 right now and leave a voicemail. International listeners use the FREE Speak Pipe tool on my website. Add your voice. It matters! Email: [email protected]   SUBMIT YOUR PARENTING QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED IN THE SHOW: Voicemail: 732-763-2576 Speak Pipe for sending audio messages Email: [email protected]   CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA Authentic Parenting on Facebook Instagram   NEED PARENTING SUPPORT? Join the Authentic Parenting FREE online community Thanks for listening!   With gratitude, Anna Seewald Parent Educator, Keynote Speaker, Author www.authenticparenting.com