Psychologists often need to remind their clients that parenting is one of the toughest and most challenging roles anyone can undertake. Every day is filled with moments of love, joy, pride and sometimes overwhelm and frustration. It is little wonder that with these intense emotions bouncing back and forth, parents fall into bed exhausted most nights, knowing they face more of the same the next day.
Sometimes, it becomes overwhelming, especially for a sole parent who has no respite from the constant responsibility. Left to cope alone and not knowing where to go for assistance, sometimes the unthinkable happens, and a little one suffers severe injury or worse. Striking out with anger and adult force against a small body can only have one outcome, and the real tragedy is that it is preventable.