How To Overcome Parenting Obstacles: 5 Proven Strategies For Tough Days

Updated July 13, 2025

Transform tough parenting days with five proven strategies from a mom of 8—practical ways to overcome obstacles and get back to joy in family life.

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Bad parenting days happen to everyone, but the best moms know how to bounce back fast. The trick is having proven strategies ready when life knocks you off balance.

Let’s be real. Some days, parenting feels like you’re dancing in quicksand while someone plays the music at double speed.

This CanCan Mom has choreographed through sleepless nights, toddler tantrums, teenage drama, adoption challenges, and every obstacle in between with eight kids.

The secret? Shift your mindset to get things done, turning overwhelming days into manageable moments.

The 5 Proven Obstacle-Busting Strategies#

Strategy 1: The “Release and Redirect” Reality Check#

The Problem: We exhaust ourselves trying to control things that are entirely beyond our control.#

The CanCan Solution: Like letting go of a costume malfunction mid-performance—acknowledge it, adjust, and keep dancing.

Here’s the magic:

Make a “Can’t Control” list (other people’s choices, your child’s personality, the weather)

Physically release it (rip up the list, burn it safely, or mentally hand it over)

Redirect energy to controllable things (your reactions, your self-care, your responses)

Real CanCan Mom Example: Instead of stressing about whether your daughter gets the lead in the school play, focus on celebrating her courage to audition and supporting her no matter what role she lands.

Result: Energy flows toward solutions instead of spinning in worry.

After choreographing 15 years of family chaos, I’ve learned that the things we can’t control aren’t worth the space on the dance floor in our minds.

Strategy 2: The “Energy Vampire” Elimination#

The Problem: Negative people drain our parenting batteries when we need them most.

The CanCan Solution: Every dance troupe needs positive energy—surround yourself with performers who lift you up, not bring you down.

Here’s the magic:

• Identify your energy drainers (the complainers, critics, and pessimists)
• Limit exposure strategically (shorter conversations, fewer hangouts)
• Seek out your cheerleaders (people who celebrate you and your family)

Real CanCan Mom Example: That mom who always finds fault with the school, other parents, and your parenting choices? Polite distance. The friend who celebrates your wins and offers practical help? VIP access.

Result: More emotional energy for your family and yourself.

This CanCan Mom calls those negative influences “energy vampires”—and honey, we don’t have time for that nonsense.

Strategy 3: The “Gratitude Reset” Perspective Shift

The Problem: When everything’s going wrong, finding anything to appreciate feels impossible.

The CanCan Solution: Just as you’d spot the one audience member who’s totally into your performance, focus on what’s working, even when everything else feels off.

Here’s the magic:

• Start stupidly small (hot coffee, matching socks, kids who eventually went to sleep)
• Write it down daily (gratitude journal, phone notes, or blog)
• Share appreciation out loud (thank family members for small things)

Real CanCan Mom Example: On the day when your toddler had three meltdowns and your teenager slammed doors, you can still appreciate that nobody needed stitches and there’s leftover pizza for dinner.

Result: Your brain rewires to notice good things more easily.

Here’s what this CanCan Mom discovered: Gratitude isn’t about pretending everything’s perfect—it’s about finding the sparkle in the chaos.

Strategy 4: The “Energy Tank Refill” Method#

The Problem: We think taking breaks makes us selfish parents, rather than better ones.

The CanCan Solution: Even the most energetic CanCan dancer needs rest between performances—model healthy boundaries for your kids.

Here’s the magic:

• Schedule weekly “me time” (non-negotiable, even if it’s 20 minutes)
• Make it visible to your family (read on the couch, take walks, work on hobbies)
• Include family downtime (movie nights, nature walks, puzzle time)

Real CanCan Mom Example: Sunday afternoons are reading time for everyone in our house. Kids see me with my book, they grab theirs, and we all recharge together in the same space.

Result: Kids learn that self-care is normal and necessary, not selfish.

No CanCan Mom can dance on empty—refueling your tank teaches your children that taking care of yourself is part of taking care of your family.

Strategy 5: The “This Too Shall Pass” Mindset#

The Problem: In crisis moments, it feels like the struggle will last forever.

The CanCan Solution: Like knowing every song has an ending—remind yourself that difficult phases are temporary, not permanent.

Here’s the magic:

• Choose your go-to phrase (“This too shall pass,” “Tomorrow is a new day,” or “I can do hard things”)
• Repeat it like a soundtrack during overwhelming moments
• Add perspective (remember past challenges you’ve overcome)

Real CanCan Mom Example: When my eighth child was going through a sleep regression while my teenager was struggling with algebra, I repeated “This season has an ending” until both situations were resolved.

Result: Hope replaces despair, and you find the strength to keep going.

After choreographing eight kids through every stage imaginable, I’ve learned that the most challenging phases always have expiration dates.

THE CANCAN TEST

Here’s how you know your obstacle-busting moves are working:

Instead of feeling completely overwhelmed… You feel equipped with the tools to handle tough moments.

Instead of spiraling when things go wrong… You bounce back faster and with more grace.

Instead of feeling alone in your struggles… You have a support system and mindset that sustains you.

YOUR NEXT STEP#

Pick ONE of these strategies. Just one.

Try it for the next challenging moment (trust me, it’s coming).

Here’s what I’ve learned through years of navigating family obstacles with eight kids: Small mindset shifts can create massive changes in how we experience difficult days.

Like a CanCan dancer who knows every performance has challenging moments, the secret is having the right moves ready when you need them most.

Your future self will thank you for building these resilience muscles now.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION#

Which obstacle-busting strategy will you try first? Please share your thoughts in the comments—I love celebrating brave moms who choose growth over giving up!

Need more parenting resilience strategies? Follow me on Instagram @CanCanMomCB or Pinterest @theCanCanMom for daily doses of systems that help you thrive through the chaos!