Today’s parent faces ‘Hard Times’ with the changing generation trying to balance with the old and the new rivering of Change! As parents, one may struggle to cope with stresses ranging from money worries in this crisis time, job changes to marital difficulties and illness. Educational problems of kids, demanding comforts and facilities related to household and routine life, workplace problems and lot of other things add up to stress. Talking with our children about these problems may seem like an insurmountable hurdle, but keeping silent may inadvertently cause them harm and inviting more problems in the longer run. Fulfilling wish out of love for children is a one time affair but if the demands keep coming when one cant cope up to make two ends meet, the real trouble shooting pores explode. If tackled right from the start, things really do make a difference to remain united in a cozy comfortable manner. Children are acutely sensitive to the nuances of their parents' tension and well-being. Family silence around stress can cause children to shoulder unnecessary burdens of shame and guilt. Talking with them is an important first step toward helping them gain important coping skills. Even when families are faced with the most overwhelming life stress, parents can help children too.

Kids Free Soul tips may be helpful here in such times of Stress and Depression:
Acknowledge the Problems. Face it. It's helpful for children, as well as adults, to be reassured that what they are experiencing is real. Crisis has creeped in and learn to live with times and make the family understand this stress. Live to the status and try maintaining rather than go higher and crash someday.

**Conversations with children can range from talking generally about the source of stress, such as worries about work, money, coping up situations, daily needs, job prospects or business worries, etc. Depending on their ages, such conversation may make the kids understand too. Younger children require a smooth way of being aware without going into details of the stress problems. The way an adult member behaves, the way the kids realize and adopt the present style of living.

**Children develop maturity in different manner and the capacity to understand and grasp complicated issue varies. As they grow up, they develop their own thinking and have their own solutions too. Leave the door open for ongoing conversation. Some children have their own say on death, divorce and family issues.

**Being preoccupied, irritable or overworked is a major parental issue, whether working or non working class. Minor clashes of word war, major separations too may happen. Difference of opinions take place but as parents, be as concrete and specific as possible about events they have witnessed. 'You've probably noticed that Daddy and I were arguing last night,' or 'you've probably noticed that I've been sad recently,' are good ways to begin and talk over the problems with children who have their say. Too young kids need to be tackled and loved but teenagers are more alert and sensitive to their parents’ problems and all that’s irritating to them behind the back doors.

**Prevent unnecessary guilt by making sure children know that your irritability or preoccupation is because of something going on in your life, not because of them. This will reduce kids stress and parental stress too.

**Encourage relationships with other trusted adults and friends. A favorite aunt, teacher, baby-sitter, or neighbor can be a great source of comfort and support for a child whose parents are temporarily unavailable.

**Be open with children and sort assistance for problems. In doing so, you model an important coping strategy, recognizing the need for help and obtaining it from a wise counselor who may be young in age but ways ahead in awareness. Literacy and awareness in some children make them act as wise advisors to parents too.

Ilaxi Sudhir Patel is a Journalist Writer for Freesouls (Print media) for Sambhaav Newspapers in Gujarat, India. Also Editor Online & CEO for www.sambhaav.com