Parenting & Guardianship

with Roberta Smart

Allow me to begin by wishing you a very happy New Year and good luck for a successful and fun-filled 2023.

This month, I want to look at new beginnings and talk to those families that are experiencing parenthood for the first time in the aftermath of living through a pandemic, and the changes that have ultimately taken place over the last couple of years.

My research tells me that anxiety amongst new parents is so much higher than usual and mental health has taken a dip over the last few years. We are seeing a rise in overanxious mums and dads who are struggling to manage their feelings, know what is right or wrong, and feel like they are constantly living on a knife’s edge of concern for their babies’ and toddlers’ health and wellbeing.

To that end I wanted to put on my ‘kindly aunt’ hat and offer for you to sit down, grab a cuppa and take a breath. Allow me to remind you of a few things to help you gain a little perspective and hopefully boost your confidence.

Firstly, kids are ridiculously resilient and can deal with way more than we realise. If their primary needs are met, such as food, water, clothing, sleep, shelter and love, they’ll be on the right track to a healthy and happy childhood.

The innate security that comes from being loved and cared for supports the growing infant into feeling safe, developing trust and learning slowly to regulate their own nervous system. So if you are meeting feeding needs, keeping baby warm and dry, have a settled place for them to sleep, and you are responsive to your baby’s needs, you can rest assured you are doing fine.

The next level of this care is to make sure you are able to smile and laugh every day, by actively seeking out joyful moments which add to your day. Whether that is the soft sweet moments of feeding your baby, giggling at playtime or enjoying seeing your baby meet new people and observing the wonders around them as you go on adventures out into the world.

Parenthood, especially the first year, is a hard gig, and you will face so many challenges –from loss of sleep to a change of identity as you shift from being a whole person into a small human’s parent. Remembering what makes you smile, enjoying the company of family and friends, and treating yourself with the utmost respect at all times, will all go some way to smoothing the road ahead. This year, it will be different and I know you are going to have an amazing year. Just take it easy, ok? And remember – you are doing an amazing job, every day. Happy New Year, let’s make it a good one! The Local Answer To advertise call 01242 510500 Page 17

Eddy Hope is toasting his new job at craft brewery DEYA thanks to a National Star work outcomes programme.

Offering tailored support, expert job coaches and opportunities to gain valuable hands-on experience, the work outcomes programmes are for people with learning and physical disabilities. They vary in length from one to three years and are available in Gloucestershire. His confidence has soared thanks to the fantastic support of the team

Eddy started his paid role after completing a month of voluntary work with the personalised support of his job coach. Once he left National Star, he began working one day a week at the Cheltenham brewery. Eddy’s duties include picking and packing orders received through DEYA’s online shop. His condence has soared thanks to the fantastic support of the team around him and travel training that has enabled him to travel to and from work independently.

The work outcomes programmes are highly practical and often delivered out in the community with students being supported on work placements. Most programmes offer vocational qualications and all give the opportunity to brush up on maths and English skills. Students who enrol have a wide range of physical or learning disabilities, any of which may have posed a barrier to nding a job.

What all learners have in common is a desire to gain paid employment or a long-term volunteering role so that they can support themselves and become more independent.

Discover more about how National Star can help you improve your job chances at www.nationalstar.org/workskills