This New, Free Parenting Class Is the Happiness Reset Burned-Out Parents Desperately Need
What does it mean to be happy? Not just satisfied or content or joyful — but to be truly, blissfully happy? Sometimes, happiness feels as elusive as a magic lamp, especially when we're in the midst of raising children (and navigating the current political climate). It may just take a change in mindset to discover what happiness really means, which is something that Yale University psychology professor Dr. Laurie Santos knows all about. The renowned professor, whose course 'The Science of Well-Being' has over 4.5 million people enrolled, just released a brand-new online course designed specifically for parents. And we couldn't be more excited!
'The Science of Well-Being' course is the most popular in Yale's history. It dives into the psychological science of living a happier life, which covers misconceptions about happiness, how our biases affect happiness, what strategies we can use to boost our happiness, and techniques to achieve our happiness goals. That course is amazing for everyone — but 'The Science of Well-Being for Parents' is tailor-made for those in the thick of raising kids. It covers time management, dealing with mom guilt and frustration, and navigating modern parenting struggles, like your child's academic stress and screen time.
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'The Science of Well-Being for Parents' is seven hours long, but each minute is worth it. This is the class for parents who see their child melting down and want to help, rather than punish, them. Who want to teach their kids how to have a happy life by modeling one themselves. Using the latest research in psychological science, this course will teach you 'how to reframe your thoughts, manage your emotions, and modify your behaviors in response to everyday challenges.'
As a mom of 7-, 6-, and 3-year-old boys, I've seen parenting influencers, read parenting books, and had countless discussions about raising kids with my mom friends. But the problem is, no one gets into the nitty gritty of what to actually do when your child is screaming bloody murder, and everyone is staring at you. Or when they tell you they hate you, or refuse to get dressed before school, or when they won't eat anything. It's exhausting and stressful — and platitudes like 'everyone goes through this' aren't helpful when you actually just don't know what to do. It's even worse when they give you advice that you don't agree with. How do I filter out the noise and find what works best for my family?
In 'The Science of Well-Being for Parents,' Dr. Santos attempts to answer this by offering tips on building 'more effective family dynamics,' as well as prioritizing yourself and creating a happier family life. It sounds impossible — and a little overwhelming — but Dr. Santos breaks it down into bite-sized chunks that are easy to listen to, reflect on, and learn. There is a mix of short videos (with a transcript if you prefer reading), videos of parents asking Dr. Santos their most pressing questions with her responses, and short writing prompts to help you reflect on what you've learned. She also brings in other parenting experts to make it well-rounded. Grab a babysitter to do the full class at once, or spread it out over several weeks.
'I feel like my parenting light turned on,' a mom named Juliette said about the course. Kristi S, another happy parent, said the course made her feel validated: 'I now feel like I have the scientific tools necessary to help my children regulate their fight-or-flight systems to feel in control of their bodies and regain a sense of calm.'
Dr. Santos, who also hosts The Happiness Lab podcast, which dives deep into the latest psychology and neuroscience research surrounding happiness, opened up about her journey into happiness research in an interview with Flow Space.
'My journey into happiness started by seeing how unhappy my college students were at Yale,' she told the outlet. 'I was in this role, called the head of college on campus, which meant I was meeting and working closely with students, and I was seeing this college student mental health crisis. Right now, nationally, more than 40 percent of college students report being too depressed to function. More than two-thirds say they're overwhelmingly anxious.'
'It's a really tough time right now for young people,' she added. 'So I just thought: My field of psychology might have something to say about what we can do to make people feel better.' Enter her viral class, popular podcast, and now, her new course focused just for parents.
'We're giving parents strategies that they can use to feel better themselves and also that they can share with their kids to make sure their kids aren't a statistic,' Dr. Santos explained.
I'm still working through the course, but I've already gained one invaluable benefit from these lessons: hope. Whether you're a new parent or you feel like you've tried it all, sometimes a fresh perspective and a sense of community are all you need to know you aren't alone. If you're a tired or overwhelmed parent, this course can give you a bit of hope, revitalizing your spirit enough to keep showing up for your family (and yourself).
Sign up for Dr. Santos' free 'The Science of Well-Being for Parents' class HERE.
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