Anyone else been yelling at their kids more than usual lately? Even the most calm and reasonable parents may be losing it a little more than usual and that’s because a lot of us are at the end of our rope after six months of trying to work from home while homeschooling. Nanny and maternity nurse Louenna Hood explains that all this togetherness can make tensions rise and that makes us less tolerant and more likely to shout. So how do we stay calm and keep our cool when we want to scream? Hood offers these tips for parents and caregivers who are losing their temper with their kiddos.
- Take a deep breath- If you can pause for two breaths before reacting, you may not end up yelling. Hood suggests asking yourself “will this matter in a year’s time?” and if the answer is no, there’s no point stressing about it.
- Reset the day- When everything feels like too much and the kids are running around or arguing, tell everyone that the whole family is having some time out. Let people go to their own space and calm down for 20 minutes - yourself included - and the overwhelming feeling will pass and you can all have a reset.
- Go for a walk- Fresh air can help clear your head and the kids can burn off some energy and use their outside voices for a few minutes.
- Keep kids informed- Let them know what the plans for the day are so they aren’t surprised or unprepared and you’re less likely to be late when you have to go out.
- Give yourself a break- It’s impossible to stay calm all the time. You’re parenting in a pandemic and you’re doing fine, just hang in there.
Source:Huffington Post