WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE HITTING YOUR CHILD

Being a parent is a tough job. It can be stressful, and lasts 24 hours a day. With most jobs we get some training on how to do it, but not with parenting. Children are not born with an instruction book.

Most people who hit their children in anger feel more stress than they can handle. Many of the stresses that we all experience, like job, marriage, or money stress, seem worse when we have a crying baby who does not sleep much. Babies and young children are very demanding. This can be hard to deal with when there is no one for parents to turn to for a break from the kids. Often times, relatives live far away and parents may not know neighbors well enough.

So if you feel stressed to the point you think about hitting your child, you are not alone. Many parents feel angry when they are stressed. But feeling angry and acting on that anger are two different things. These feelings tell us it is time to look for help and support.

If you are afraid that you or someone else will hit, shake, or otherwise hurt your child, call 911 or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at (800) 799-SAFE (that's 800-799-7233). The following national resources can get you in touch with a local support group in your area:

The Family Violence Prevention Fund can be reached at 800-END-ABUSE or visit their website at www.endabuse.org
Parents Anonymous can be reached at (909) 621-6184 or visit their website at www.ParentsAnonymous.org.

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

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