Parents need to mind themselves so that they can mind their children. This is just one of the messages from Parenting Limerick who hosted a morning on Parental Health and Well-being in April.
Attendees on the morning heard from Marie Grace who featured on national television on RTE’s Operation Transformation, and Brian McNulty, author of Embracing Sanity: One Man’s Footsteps. Both shared their own personal journeys toward health and well-being.
After the presentations parents had the opportunity to explore a wide variety of display stands with information on getting healthy, active and connected.
Ger Brophy, Area Manager with Tusla – Child and Family Agency, Mid-West and Chair of Limerick Children and Young People’s Services Committee, welcomed everyone to the event noting that
“We know that parents need to mind themselves in order to mind their children, but parents often put everyone else first.The purpose of today is to remind parents of the importance of taking the time to look after themselves and to offer some ideas of how to do this.”
Echoing this, Marie Grace said that
“Taking thirty minutes to focus on yourself and exercise will not affect your children in any way, but not looking after yourself might. Keep a damage limitation pack on hand with healthy snacks such as fruit, nuts and water to resist the temptation to go for unhealthy snacks."
Feedback from participants was very positive with one parent observing that the Parent Health and Well Being event was,
“Very interesting; loads of information. Really enjoyed all the talks and meeting new people. Greatly organised”.
Another said that,
“The speakers were an absolute inspiration.”
The event was held in partnership with Health Serivce Executive Mid-West Health and Well-being and the Limerick Lifelong Learning Festival.
Parenting Limerick is a network of organisations that provide parenting and family support across Limerick. The network is working together to provide parents with the information and support they need so that they can be the best parents they can. It is a sub-group of Limerick CYPSC.
More information on Parenting Limerick and Positive Parenting along with a range of information on parenting and parenting supports can be found on www.loveparenting.ie.
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