Parenting Matters Blog

Director’s Corner

Parenting in the Hard Moments – And Why Your Support Matters More Than Ever

By: Katie Becker, Executive Director

When we talk about mental health, we often picture therapy sessions, diagnoses, or long-term treatment. But for many parents, mental health challenges show up in quieter, sometimes messier ways.

During the pandemic I was a stay-at-home mom, and being closed off from friends, losing all our grandparents to Covid 19 and attending three funerals via Facetime… really took its toll.

The constant whining, cleaning, entertaining, cleaning, cooking, playing, and cleaning began to wear on my mental health. Despite having a loving family and a strong support system, there were days I felt completely overwhelmed. I felt responsible for keeping everyone afloat, but the sheer exhaustion of trying to be “okay” when the world was anything but became heavier than I could carry alone. Luckily, I had access to support and we all made it through relatively unscathed.

Now, that uncertainty still lingers, just in different forms. Whether it’s the state of the world, the news we try to shield our kids from, or just the daily grind of raising children in a time that can feel unforgiving and even hopeless, it’s still heavy. And if I’m being honest, I’ve lost my patience more than a few times with my kid.

I’ve yelled when I didn’t want to. I’ve said things in frustration I wish I could take back. And afterward, I feel sick, because I know better. I know that our son deserves more calm, more patience. I know I can do better. But in those moments, it’s hard not to feel like a failure… and sometimes, a fraud. Especially working here at Parenting Matters, surrounded by people who coach and support parents every single day.

But then, something amazing happens. I hear one of our Parenting Educators in my head, reminding a parent to pause, to breathe, to repair. And I try again. That’s what I want every parent to know: you can try again. That one moment doesn’t define your whole story. It’s the choosing to come back, to reconnect, that truly matters.

One mantra helps me get through tough days: I can’t control what happens, but I can control how I react. That small reminder grounds me when everything else feels like it’s spinning.

At Parenting Matters, we meet parents right in the middle of their hard moments. Sometimes we show up when things have reached a crisis, other times, we’re there to hold up parents through uncertainty and help build their confidence with real strategies and genuine support. We teach coping skills, model emotional regulation, and remind parents that they are not alone.

And we can only do this because of you.

Your support allows us to reach families when they’re most vulnerable, not just with information, but with compassion. Because sometimes what a parent needs most isn’t a checklist, it’s someone to say, “You’re doing your best. Let’s walk through this together.” I find that, at Parenting Matters myself, I often reach out to my friend, who happens to be our Program Director, for advice and support.

And that’s exactly what your support makes possible. You’re helping us give parents the tools to keep going, not perfectly, but mindfully. You’re helping us remind families that emotional well-being starts not with perfection, but with connection. Mental health isn’t a side issue; it’s the foundation of everything. And parenting during stressful times doesn’t mean we have to do it alone.