Defeating Loneliness as a Parent
Email 1
Copy/Paste the following email.
Subject Line: Defeating Loneliness as a Parent
Dear (Insert Name of Parent),
We want to help parents be as healthy as possible because emotionally and spiritually healthy moms and dads make better parents.
This month we want to address an issue many of you face daily…
Many days you are lonely.
You probably don’t know who to talk to about this. You probably feel guilty for feeling this way. We don’t have all the answers, but we hope this month’s video is refreshing to your soul.
We want you to know, we see you. Parenting can be lonely, so we created a video just for you.
Set aside five minutes for a little parenting inspiration. Click here to watch.
https://vimeo.com/parentministry/review/360695361/901c0db57f
You are worth it.
Partnering with you,
(Insert Leader’s Name)
Email 2
Copy/Paste the following email.
Subject Line: Defeating Loneliness as a Parent
Dear (Insert Parent’s Name),
This month we have been talking about an issue that many parents experience. Many of you feel isolated and lonely. If that is you, you are not alone.
Earlier in the month, we sent out an encouragement video. If you missed it, click here…
https://vimeo.com/parentministry/review/360695361/901c0db57f
You may watch the video and your thoughts race when it comes to loneliness. Let me encourage you with one more thought.
Good intentions will not help move you out of loneliness.
If you want to break the cycle of isolation, you have to take some relational risks and change your routine. See some wise counsel on how and what this looks like for you.
At the moment you are going to feel insecure, but I promise that when you take a wise relational risk, you are meeting a need. Ask someone to coffee, walk with a friend, join a Bible Study, or engage more with the Church community.
I am praying for you this month. If you need to talk, please reach out by email!
Partnering with you,
(Insert Leader’s Name)
Video Script
Defeating Loneliness as a Parent
Welcome to this month’s online parenting class. We are going to head in a different direction this month because we’re not going to talk much about being a better parent. This month we are going to talk to “you about you” because a healthy mom or dad is a better parent. We are going to talk about an issue that most people are afraid to talk about. The truth is that many parents feel very isolated and lonely so how do we as parents defeat loneliness.
I know we are not sitting in a coffee shop having this conversation but if we were some of you would be nodding in agreement. Parenting can be lonely and we feel guilty for even feeling it. We expect parenting preschoolers to be isolating but we think it will get better as the kids get older. In some cases, it does but in each season of parenting friendships you can really trust shift and change. Many times as parents we get so wrapped up in work, the demands of our homes, and our kids schedules that we live in a constant state of survival with little room for friendship.
You may be thinking that this is not a big deal but it is because isolation and feelings of loneliness lead us to embrace some common traps…
- We lose perspective and believe that our kids are the only ones struggling.
- We lose confidence and doubt our parenting instincts.
- We lose gratitude and can’t see the good things about our teens.
- We lose hope and believe cynicism is the only answer.
There is so much to gain from defeating loneliness and moving out of isolation and you are the only one that can make the change. This has nothing to do with your children or teens. You have to choose to open your life to some other meaningful relationships.
Here are a few questions to get you thinking about some steps you can take to move beyond the isolation you feel…
- How engaged are you at your church? // For many parents, they feel isolated but they have chosen to be casual with one place where Christians gather each week to connect…church. I’m not just talking about dipping in a service and then dipping out. I am asking are you plugged into a group? Do you serve with other adults? Do you make time to actually connect with others at church? Are you in a men or women’s discipleship group? Your church is a great place to start looking for meaningful relationships but they will not come without effort on your end.
- Do you have a mentor? // Do you have another mom or dad ahead of you that you can meet with just to ask questions and learn from? That is a mentor. You probably need someone ahead of you to help you. Think about someone you respect deeply and ask them if they would meet up once a month or once a quarter just so you can ask questions and learn.
- Are you engaging other parents around you? // This is a big one. Are you working to make connections with other parents as you live your normal life? Think about the last time you actually started up a conversation at baseball practice instead of reading a book or looking at social media. There are people around you that might be great friends if you took the time to get to know them.
These are just 3 places to start. This month, go for it! If you are lonely and isolated talk about with someone you trust and take some steps out of that space!
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An emotionally and spiritually healthy mom or dad is a better parent.
Parenting can be lonely. You are not alone.
As parents, we get so wrapped up in work, the demands of our homes, and our kids schedules that we live in a constant state of survival with little room for friendship. Make room for real friendship.
Loneliness as a parent can make us lose perspective, confidence, gratitude, and hope.
Defeating loneliness as a parent can be done, but it comes with a choice to work on it over time.
To fight back loneliness, work to make connections with other parents as you live your normal life.
Despite living in a digital age, statistics show proximity is the strongest predictor of friendships.
Look for friendships within your town or community, not just digital. There are people around you that might be great friends if you took the time to get to know them.
