We’ve all been there before – the consistent crying, whining, hyperactivity and changing of diapers. Things that push us closer and closer to the edge of defeat.

Yes, we’re talking about parental burnout: when parenting feels like more of a chore than something you enjoy doing. Its marked by exhaustion, a feeling of inadequacy, and a strong sense of emotional detachment from your children.

Of course, you’re not alone; it’s perfectly natural to feel like not wanting to parent for a while. Fortunately, it’s not permanent, either.

Here’s how you can cope with parental burnout:

Avoid Excessive Commitment

Perhaps one of the main reasons parental burnout happens is because parents spread themselves thin for multiple things – whether it’s a new project at work, or multiple club activities for your child. And although you want the best for everyone, you can’t be everywhere at once.

That’s why it’s best to prioritise your time. Give a fixed amount of attention at work, without letting it overlap with your precious family time. Simultaneously, don’t commit to too many family events that might start affecting your workload. Get rid of activities you know that take too much of your time, and replace them with some relaxing time with your child. Generating a healthy work-life balance can be tricky, but it’s the best way to avoid parental burnout.

Let Others In

As parents, we often think everything is our responsibility, and so resort to doing everything on our own. We forget that we’re not a one-man army, and so add unnecessary stress on ourselves. Instead of fighting the fight alone, open yourself up to others’ help.

It’s a great practice to let others in, whether its your spouse, parents, or even friends. They can help you out when nothing in your life makes sense, or when you feel too exhausted to parent properly. Figure out exactly where you need help – is it when they’ve just come home from daycare and they’re too hyper to listen to you? Or is it when its nighttime, and your little one refuses to sleep on time? Deciding where you need help will allow you to reserve your own energy. Having their support during this rocky path makes the experience much more bearable.

Give Yourself Me-time

Sometimes, when you’re too busy raising your little toddlers, you forget taking care of yourself. This only makes things worse by adding to the feelings of unhappiness and discomfort that accompanies parental burnout.

Prevent that from happening by assigning yourself some quality me-time: a time-slot where you can de-stress yourself by doing something relaxing. Activities like that include yoga, taking a walk, reading a book, or simply pampering yourself! Doing this a good few minutes everyday will help you relieve pressure when it gets too much to bear.


If the parental burnout is still too much to bear, it may help to enrol your child into daycare once they’re old enough. Not only will you get to have some free time by yourself to readjust your bearings, but your child will also have their own kind of fun.

The kind of nursery you choose matters a lot. Nurseries in Jumeirah Park are well-known for having great curricula, but undoubtedly, Oakfield Early Learning Centre takes the cake. Oakfield houses some of the best practitioners, who take care of the children when their parents aren’t around. They help conduct various interesting group activities that keep children occupied in the most fun way possible. It’s a complete win-win situation!

Don’t feel guilty for wanting to take a break from parenting once in a while. Just remember to focus on yourself every once in a while. Once you learn how to balance yourself with your children, you’ll never have to face parental burnout.