Parents, Give Yourself Permission to Feel How You Feel Without Judgment (It's OK!) by Kim Kusiciel

There are times in our lives that feel totally normal, excruciating, unfair, happy, unbelievable, joyful, sad and just plain so-so. Over time, they all balance each other out, but in the midst of it all, it’s OK to not feel OK.

• It’s OK to fake a smile to get through the day.
• It’s OK to let a few things go and pick up the pieces later. 
• It’s OK to ask for help or just accept it when your friends and family offer it.
• It’s OK to not know what you need and to be unsure.

Give yourself time to process what you are feeling and permission to feel your way through it because, in time, this too shall pass. That much I know.

Even when times are their toughest, somehow we understand that it's just temporary. Of course, everyone has a different threshold for what “temporary” means to them. For me, it could be a few months, but for someone else, it could only be a few days, weeks or even years. Outside of life-altering circumstances, I believe that given time and proper self-care you will feel better and more than OK.

Parents, please give yourself permission to feel what you feel without judgment. Tomorrow is a new day.