One of the most difficult and most stressful roles anyone can undertake in society is that of parenting. I wont say it needn't be, parenting is stressful - get used to it!

There are however many things that can be done to reduce the stress and make the role of being a parent a lot easier - a lot easier on the parent and on the child.

The biggest problem I see with parents, particularly new parents, is the reluctance to seek out help. Parenting is not a task than can be taken by ourselves. Humans are by nature social creatures and as social creatures the roles of parenting should be a shared role - not just between mothers and fathers - but also inclusive of grandparents, uncles and aunts and of course close friends and professionals.

Don't fall into the trap of thinking that others will think poorly of you for asking for help. By attempting to do everything on your own you increase your stress levels and create an atmosphere of tension and unease that is not only damaging to your own wellbeing, it is also damaging to the wellbeing of the child - the very person you are trying to do the right thing by.

Seek help when you need it. Try to get time out for yourself and, just as importantly, time out for yourself and your partner - time out to recharge your batteries. If you receive offers of assistance, particularly baby sitting and they are from individuals you trust - then take advantage of them.

One final point to note for new parents. One of the hardest things to do is to leave your newborn with a baby sitter, even if that person is the most trusted person in the world. Do it and do it often! The more often you do it the easier it becomes. We are social creatures - so are your children - they need to socialize too.