Mega Doctor News
There’s no negating that parenting can be challenging and demanding. Despite being deeply rewarding, being a parent or guardian is an exhausting 24-7 job with no formal training or education and a steep learning curve.
Since each child possesses distinct traits, abilities and learning styles, parents and guardians can often experience feelings of guilt, exasperation and self-doubt.
“Many parents experiences can become extremely frustrated over the course of their children’s lives due to the demanding nature of the job,” says Leticia Sosa, MSSW, LCSW, LCDC-I., KAP, CLYL, EMDR- Therapist, Director of Outpatient Services, South Texas Health System Behavioral. “When raising children, there’s a constant need to adapt to the never-ending cycle of needs throughout their lives, with many parents feeling the pressure to get things ‘right’ all the time.”
In fact, a considerable number of parents, including new parents, feel unprepared for the challenges of raising children, according to a study by the John Hopkins School of Nursing, with 62% saying they find parenting “a lot harder” than anticipated.
The good news: parenting programs can provide important education and support to overcome challenges and help make parenting easier and more enjoyable while strengthening a child’s ability to thrive.
“Parenting education is sometimes viewed as something negative, like it’s a reflection of a person’s ability to parent,” says Sosa. “That’s simply not the case. Parenting education isn’t just for struggling parents or those having severe problems with their children’s behavior, it’s an opportunity for new and seasoned parents to feel more confident as a caregiver, prevent future problems, relish being with their children and help their family grow and thrive.”
To help Rio Grande Valley parents and caregivers navigate the complexities of a child’s physical, cognitive and social-emotional development, South Texas Health System Behavioral will host a special half-day parent conference on Thursday, August 21, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., at The Old Church Winery in McAllen.
Entitled “Raising Resilient Children Parenting Conference,” the free event will empower caregivers with practical tools to address today’s parenting challenges.
“This conference is about more than just parenting; it’s about building emotionally resilient families from the inside out,” says Sosa. “Each session is designed to give parents practical skills they can apply immediately to foster stronger connections and build healthier homes.”
The conference will feature sessions led by mental healthcare professionals on a variety of topics, including positive discipline, communication and verbal de-escalation techniques, coping skills to help parents manage stress and build resilience and self-care strategies aimed at preventing parental burnout.
Food and beverages will be provided at no cost to attendees.
Space is limited, so those interested in attending should register by visiting STHS Behavioral’s event page on TicketLeap to reserve their seat.
For more information on the parenting conference, visit the STHS Facebook Events page. To learn more about the comprehensive mental health services available for adults and adolescents at STHS Behavioral, visit www.sthsbehavioral.com.
| Who: | South Texas Health System Behavioral |
| What: | FREE Raising Resilient Children Parenting Conference |
| When: | Thursday, August 21, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. |
| Where: | The Old Church Winery700 N. Main St. McAllen, TX 78501 |
