Being a parent can be hard. But being a working parent can be even harder. After a long day of work all you want to do is come home and relax. But as soon as you get home you realize: someone needs to empty the dishwasher, there’s laundry that needs to be washed and you’re pretty sure your daughter didn’t have bangs when you left for work this morning.

Being a working parent is like having two full-time jobs at once. No wonder you feel like you need an extra pair of hands. But somehow, you feel guilty for needing help. After all, shouldn’t you be able to manage on your own? Does getting extra help make you a bad parent? The short answer is: No. As for why, read on to find out.

Giving your kids the life they deserve

Your kids might not understand why you have to leave the house every morning. But deep in your heart you know you’re doing it for them. You are trying to provide your children with food, a comfortable place to sleep and the occasional toy here and there. You are trying to make your kids’ lives as easy as possible, but that doesn’t mean your life has to be harder than necessary. Getting help in childcare, for example by hosting an Au Pair, will make your everyday life less stressful. This way you can actually spend time with your kids when you get home instead of having to worry about doing their laundry.

It’s always better to ask for help

If you feel overwhelmed, asking for help is the responsible choice to make. When we are stressed we tend to behave very differently. We are tense and more likely to get aggressive. This can lead to overreacting to little things and making very bad decisions. One of them might be physical punishment. Neither one of us wants you to hurt your children, so don’t feel guilty for asking for help. It actually makes you a better parent.

Gaining a new family member

Even though your kids might need some time getting used to someone new taking care of them, they will soon learn that it can be a lot of fun. If you decide to host an Au Pair, your children will gain a big sibling who they can play with and talk to whenever they need. Au Pairs are usually very excited to be able to stay with you, so they will do the best they can to help you. And your kids will love them, too.

So, as I hope you’re able to see now, needing help in childcare doesn’t make you a bad parent. On the contrary: admitting that you are struggling is very brave and there is nothing to feel guilty about.

All the best,

Sammy-Jo