Parental guilt: what’s healthy for children?
23 September 2019
When thinking about parental guilt, it’s worth considering that when parents invest in their own wellbeing they’re also looking after their children, Parenting Research Centre CEO Warren Cann told ABC Radio National’s Life Matters program.
The program recently explored the issue of parental guilt and how it can get in the way of better outcomes for children.
Listen to the parental guilt interview
Host Hilary Harper spoke with Mr Cann and author Melanie Dimmett, who discussed her experiences of parenting a child with additional needs.
“Self care is not the same as self indulgence,” Mr Cann said.
“Parenting draws on our resources and we need to replenish them. If you don’t put petrol in your car, at some point it is going to stop.”
The wide-ranging discussion also focused on the importance of connecting and sharing experiences with other parents who understand.
Learn more
- Learn about MyTime, our free national program that supports parents of children with disabilities
- Read our opinion piece on why we can keep children safer if we stop judging parents