Have you ever wondered how you can stop a day from going downhill before it starts? I've mentioned that one of the first steps in getting a handle on anger or yelling is knowing our anger triggers - this week I found something else that totally helped me not snap. It may sound silly, or too [...]Continue Reading
parenting anger
3-2-1 Calm Down
A simple technique for dealing with anger to cool your brain down from 'boil over' mode. I've got another tip from a reader for dealing with anger to share today. This is something you can try right in the moment when you're noticing yourself get more and more angry. Use this calm down [...]Continue Reading
Parenting from The Dark Pit
I stand in the living room breathing deep, feeling the muscles by my jaw tense as I focus on finding a teeny tiny grain of patience in order to stop myself from yelling, "JUST CLEAN UP THE &%$#@*&! TOYS AND STOP ASKING ME QUESTIONS!!!" I tightly manage to say, "OK, only a few more things [...]Continue Reading
The Day I Realized I Was Bullying My Kids
I was being a bully... I had just watched a video from Playful Learning called Power of Words with my kids, thinking it would be helpful for them, hopefully help us decrease sibling squabbles. I didn't realize I would get an emotional 2x4 to the head as I listened to the description of Put [...]Continue Reading
3 Calm Down Skills to Practice Before Anger Strikes
This article contains Amazon affiliate links. When my son was 5 sometimes it felt like his temper was in charge of our household. Frustration would cause him to scream and get overwhelmed and destructive. This in turn would spur my own temper. It felt like one or both of us were angry all the [...]Continue Reading
Evolution of a Mama Tantrum – and How to STOP One
My five year old is sitting by me making mouth noises when I lose it. “squish, bleerp, swishhhh, squish.” “OK STOP! ENOUGH with the mouth noises!! GET OUT of here!!! GO!!!” I shriek in my loudest most threatening voice (and ask anyone who knows me, I have a very loud voice.) The [...]Continue Reading