Nurturing is an important part of parenting and helps children feel loved, respected and secure.

But, parents are people who need to take care of themselves, too. Nurturing means taking care of and helping yourself and your family to grow and to develop.

Parents and children alike need to be nurtured in order to create a happy family. Creating a nurturing home for your family helps everyone feel better about themselves. Below are some ways to nurture your children: Make them feel special; pay attention to your children when they make an effort to do it right; teach your values; help them face challenges positively; let them express healthy emotions; build on their strengths; dream together; help your children experience acceptance and appreciation; see things from your child's world; give children the benefit of the doubt; convey unconditional love -- give lots of hugs; say "I love you'' once a day; model and encourage social responsibility and empathy; spend special time regularly with each child; maintain clear, fair and consistent boundaries; be patient; Learning is special, so help your children to learn better in school by employing a few of the following ideas: Read to your child everyday and help with homework; know your child's skill level and reward effort; talk to your children's teacher regularly; make learning a positive and fun experience; talk to your child about what goes on in school; ask your child what subjects he or she likes best; let your child teach you; let older children teach their younger siblings; share problem-solving skills; see mistakes as opportunities to learn; be patient when children need to learn the same thing over and over. Taking care of ourselves is as important as taking care of our children. Here are a few things you can do for YOU: Celebrate your successes; give yourself hugs; take a hot bath; lie down, put your feet up; listen to music; light a candle; find time to go out with your friends; make a "date'' with your partner; learn something new; start to exercise and eat better; take a nature walk; enjoy the "little'' things; focus on your strengths; believe in yourself; be patient with your self -- change happens slowly; In the most nurturing homes, we still have stress in parenting our children.

Here are a few tips to help you reduce your stress or frustration. Remember you are not alone when frustration turns to anger. All parents experience these feelings.

A rule of thumb when your anger flares is to remove yourself from your children until you feel in control. If your children are too young to be left alone, call a friend, neighbour, or family member to help you.

Contact Parents Anonymous of Bermuda by telephoning 292-6148 in order to join a parenting group. Reaching out for help is a sign of strength. What follows are a few things that will help you when stress builds up: STOP in your tracks. Step back. Sit down. Take a time out yourself.

Take five deep breaths. Inhale. Exhale... slowly, slowly.

Count to 10 (or 50!). Say the alphabet out loud or sing it.

Telephone a parent helpline or even the weather; make sure you stand at least six feet away from your child when you are angry, unless their safety requires you to be nearer; Still mad? Run in place very quickly.

Thumb through a magazine, newspaper, photo album; tap into your sense of humour; pick up a pencil and write down your thoughts and feelings, or keep a journal; remember times when you have been this angry and handled it well; have a hot cup of tea; close your eyes and visualise a place where everything is calm and perfect.