HOW TO CURB PARENTAL BURNOUT

Look after yourself first, physically and emotionally. “The notion that you have to be selfless and sacrifice yourself is another myth that is very detrimental to the child. Rest, slow down, exercise and eat healthily. Get psychotherapy as a preventative measure, and not as a last resort, so you live with the selfawareness of your emotional space,” Mkone adds. Create a convenient routine with the best interest of the child in mind. “Children feel safer, and the more consistent parents are, the sooner they get used to their routine. If children sleep at regular times then parents can use the extra minutes to work, or to have some quiet time of their own,” Dr Ntozini says.

Get support. “Ask for help and use what is available to you. Get a full-time nanny. If you have extended family who are willing to take children for a weekend, then let the kids go! If you need a Saturday alone, find a day or night-care centre that is open on weekends. You’d be surprised how many preschool centres are open and how affordable some of them are,” she encourages. Maintain an identity outside of motherhood.

“You need to do things just for you. This should be something that’s unrelated to children or family. This is a form of self-care,” Pillay says. Lower your expectations and reduce extracurricular activities. “If you allow you child too much screen time once in a while, it won’t hurt them. The pressure to get it right all the time is not good for you or the kids,” she adds.

Take family responsibility leave. “It’s there to benefit from. Don’t let anyone make you feel guilty for doing what you need to do for you and your family,” Dr Ntozini says.