This book contains proven steps and strategies on how to become the great parent that you are without losing your mind over the stresses that come with the ride. I know it sounds really impossible to think about parenting without associating it with stress. A lot of parents actually use that very word - stress - when describing how their experience has gone. The truth is, in the midst of all the ups and the downs, stress can be broken down into manageable chunks. Experts and medical professionals actually advocate moderate doses of stress, because in these levels the can even be helpful and beneficial. Stress can keep you sharp and alert. However, unhealthy levels of stress can not only become unhealthy - it can also become a hindrance in your personal relationships. But what is stress, really? Let us take some time to clearly define it before we go ahead trying to fight it. Stress is any form of emotional and/or physical demand that becomes too much to handle. This demand includes the small daily challenges - from waking your kids in the morning, to driving them to school, to the final hour of the day when you've finally tucked them in bed. On paper, these don't sound all that scary - but because they happen on a daily basis, the start becoming more trivial. Not acknowledging their effects can lead to harmful consequences. In the long run, all of these tiny hassles add up and build up under pressure. Unless they are dealt with properly, they can end in an explosion of frustration and anger - and there is nobody closer than your own family to be affected by this mess. The thing is, you should start taking these hassles more seriously - especially the big ones, like sickness, death, and divorce. Stress comes from all of the negative events we've just mentioned above, among many others. However, stress can also stem from joyous occasions - yes, even those that warrant celebration: promotions, birthdays, parties, and accomplishments. How is this so? Let's go back to our definition of stress. Stress comes from any demand that a person is unable to manage. In this light, it can be said that moving in to a new, bigger home, getting married, and having a new baby can be stressful because they are situations that aren't always easy to manage. Without the right stress management skills, these happy occasions can easily turn into a person's downfall. In order to prevent being weighed down by huge experiences, good and bad, you have to have the adequate skills to manage the stresses that come in life. To help you out, this book will teach you how to handle certain stressful situations, as well as life lessons that you can apply day to day for the rest of your parenting life.