Dad and daughter dancing together in a light colored living room

Navigating the Path of Parenting and Resources

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As a mother and an early childhood professional, these two roles did not always align for me. My mom brain often took over, all my knowledge going out the window when my baby was crying. I wanted to fix what was wrong and make my baby feel better as soon as possible. Eventually, my early childhood brain would kick in, and I was able to identify typical developmental behaviors such as excessive crying that can occur after the first two weeks of life and peak at 8 weeks when parents are most sleep deprived. It reminded me that the crying would eventually decrease by the 3-to-4-month mark, but as a mom, I needed to find a strategy to get from point A to point B. I learned to identify her peak crying times and create a schedule that anticipated those times. In addition, I created a plan to bring in additional support for respite or self-care.

The fact is, this is not the reality for the majority of families. So how can we change this? I believe there is always something we can do to provide information to empower families. Here are some strategies to practice and share.

Connection

Connection to others has a wealth of benefits to families. Establishing or increasing one’s social connection has shown to improve mental and physical health by reducing stress and isolation. Who are the people in a family’s life that can provide respite, help or listen? A social network can be made up of family, friends, neighbors or teachers who can be there when a family needs it. Trusted individuals can be proactive in a family’s life and instead of only offering to help, they can show up to take care of a child while a parent or caregiver runs an errand, takes a nap or eats a meal.

There are also places for connection, such as local moms and dads’ groups, libraries, churches, parks, community centers and schools. These places provide opportunities to meet other families with similar interests and shared experiences, celebrate the joys of parenting and lend a compassionate ear. Supportive relationships can lead to a sense of belonging, validation and being cared for that in turns allows parents to provide nurturing caregiving for their own child.

Parent and Caregiver Education

Another starting point for many families to get guidance is the pediatrician’s office. This is a place to learn about your child’s health, nutrition and milestones. Many pediatricians’ offices now complete developmental screenings using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ®) to monitor developmental milestones during well baby checkups. A developmental screening provides an opportunity for parents to learn about their child’s cognitive, communication, motor and social skills. If the pediatrician’s office is not conducting screenings, or you want your child screened before their next checkup, Hillsborough County has a wealth of providers offering developmental screenings at no cost to families that can take place in the community setting or in a home visit.

Families can learn more about child development milestones through The Center for Disease Control (CDC), which breaks down milestones from 2 months to 5 years of age. According to T. Berry Brazelton’s Touchpoint theory, understanding a child’s development can prepare parents for a regression in sleeping when their baby is suddenly waking up in the night because they have hit a new milestone such as rolling over or pulling up to stand. This is a new and exciting skill that may temporarily disrupt the family sleep schedule but will pass by, reestablishing the sleep routine and practicing the new skill during the day.

A family sitting down putting money into piggy banks on the table

Advocacy

Parents and caregivers, give yourself permission to ask for help. While Hillsborough is a resource-rich community, it can sometimes be overwhelming to find the right place. Parent advocacy involves engaging system partners to meet you and your child’s needs. Connecting with programs that have a case manager, family support coordinator, resource specialist or social worker can make it less daunting to navigate the system of care in your community. Identify what you need and start by making calls to get information.

For example, if you notice that your child is not reaching developmental milestones, there are steps already in place to receive a screening, evaluation or intervention. As a result of the Individual with Disabilities Act (IDEA), eligible children from birth to age 21 can receive early intervention services and special education. Parents can reach out to Part C-Early Steps(Birth to 3) and Part B-Local School District (3-21 years) to learn more about the process.

Families may feel tremendous pressure to be the perfect parent or caregiver of the perfect child. The notion of a perfect parent or child is a myth. Help parents recognize that perfect parenting is not a realistic, attainable goal, and then release that expectation of themselves. Circle of Security® is a parenting education program that emphasizes “Good Enough” parenting. It acknowledges the intent that parents are doing the best that they can to meet their child’s needs while recognizing mistakes will be made along the way. If mistakes are made, there is room for repair and improvement between parent and child. “Good Enough” parenting alleviates the stress and pressure that comes along with parenting. Remember parents and caregivers you are “Good Enough.” Engage in self-talk and use “Good Enough” as a mantra along with deep breaths to regulate yourself and child when a challenging moment presents itself.

Resources

Each family has their own path and journey to travel. It will have its up and downs, detours and winding roads with no straight path to answers. However, along the way we can create stops to take a break, ask for directions and meet new people to make it easier.

and older gentleman smiling big while holding a happy younger child

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Presented By: Children's Board | Originally published in the April 2026 issue of Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine.