It's a story as old as mankind: Parents place stress upon their kids, and kid return the favor.

Professor Robin Simon, of Florida State University, and Ranae Evenson, of Vanderbilt University, conducted a study which confirmed what many had long suspected: Parents suffer from greater depression and stress than do adults without children. Both mothers and fathers are equally likely to encounter these symptoms. Interestingly, and perhaps counter-intuitively, those with young children suffered less anxiety than did parents of adult children living at home. Symptoms of chronic anxiety and tension do not vanish when the children move away.

That doesn't mean that living with kids under the age of twelve is easy. Everyone who has ever sat up all night tending to a sick child knows otherwise. The difficulties can seem overwhelming. Managing time, managing money, insuring your child's safety, dealing with the various crises arising at school, helping your youngster improve his or her social skills -- these challenges can frazzle the best of us.

Sometimes the difficulties seem insurmountable. Studies prove that young mothers and fathers who felt that they cannot cope with the job of being a parent will transmit their stress to their sons and daughters -- who may well respond by displaying behavioral problems. Which leads, in turn to more parental stress.

If you find yourself caught in this vicious cycle, take the first step: Alleviate the stress in your own life. Stop trying to "fix" others. Go to work on yourself.

Meditate. Practice guided imagery.

Start a yoga program (ie Mark Blanchard's Progressive Power Yoga) -- and if your kids join you, you will all benefit.

Try singing in the shower or in the car. You may feel silly at first, particularly if you haven't much faith in your singing ability. But you'll reduce the tension level if you belt out whatever tune you like as loud as you like -- and never mind if you hit the notes properly.

Even certain types of housecleaning can help. A simple repetitive motion, such as wiping the windows or dusting the furniture, can place you into a semi-hypnotic state. Allow yourself the freedom to trance out while engaging in light housework.

Yoga
Yoga remains one of the most effective ways to untangle knotted nerves. You may be thinking that your family requires too much of your time to do yoga -- but even a small amount of time spent practicing can help you achieve a clearer mental state. With greater peace of mind, you'll soon find that you can manage your time more effectively. In other words, yoga gives you more free time.

Be aware of your breath
Spend several minutes -- or a longer amount of time, if possible -- concentrating on your breath. At first, you need merely become aware of the entrance and exit of air from your body. Note the way your belly or chest inflates or deflates. Try not to do anything. Simply observe.

The air you breathe enters your lungs. From there, the oxygen transfers to your blood and circulates throughout your body -- your heart, your brain, all of your muscles you’re your remain perfectly aware of this process as you breathe in and out, slow and deep, you will feel tension and anxiety melt.

Now try a slightly more advanced breathing exercise -- alternating your nostrils. Sit with legs crossed, spine straight.

Place your thumb lightly against one side of your nose. Place the ring finger (the fourth finger) on the other side. The index and middle fingers can rest atop the bridge of your nose.

Keeping your mouth closed, use the thumb to block the passage of air through one nostril while you breathe through the other nostril. Then switch. Make sure you take deep, slow breaths that fill your lungs. Then try breathing in through one nostril and exhaling through the other.

If you have a headache, this simple exercise can work wonders. Under any circumstances, you'll appreciate feeling the psychic poisons leave your system.

These techniques may greatly reduce your own anxiety level -- and when you feel less stress, life will become easier for everyone in your family. The benefits will increase if your kids decide to try these exercises.