HRI Blog

Sometimes laughter really is the best medicine. It can have the power to turn a stressful situation into an opportunity for joy and connection. If you feel yourself losing control, try to look for an opportunity to turn the situation into a silly moment where you can bond with your kids.

Maybe you’ve had a really hard day at work, or your kids have been pushing your buttons all day long. Your patience is lacking, and even the little things seem to be getting to you. Maybe they have been making a mess with their toys even after you asked them to clean up. Instead of yelling at them for not listening, play with them! Then, work together to clean up, using this moment as an opportunity for teaching.

A calming mantra is a great tool for getting through hectic moments where you feel like you are losing your cool. It can be as simple as a single word or it can be a favorite phrase that generates peace and serenity. The next time you feel yourself losing patience, repeat your mantra before reacting.

We encourage you to think of some soothing words or phrases that can help you calm down when you feel like you are losing your composure!

Here are some examples to get you started:

• “Breathe.”
• “This too shall pass.”
• “I will pause before I react.”
• “Patience and love.”
• “Slow down and listen.”
• “I can handle this.”

When you feel like you are losing control and getting angry with your kids, it is important to look deeper and determine if there are other factors contributing to what you are feeling. Are you tired, stressed, upset about something at work, or feeling like your needs aren’t being met? Understanding what you are feeling and why you are feeling that way can help you gain control of your emotional response, and it can generate more effective ways of communicating and handling stressful situations with your kids.

Parenting is hard work, and it’s completely normal to have moments where you feel overwhelmed, frustrated, or upset with your kids. However, it’s important to try your best to keep these feelings from negatively impacting the way you interact with your children. We’ve all had experiences where our emotions got the best of us, and we didn’t exactly react or respond to something in the best way. It’s likely that if we had taken a moment to walk away and calm down during this situation, we would have responded with more kindness and compassion.

As a parent, it is important to recognize the moments when you are feeling emotionally dysregulated and take time to calm down before responding to your kids. A great way to regain composure when you feel yourself becoming angry or upset is to take a break. Often times, walking away from the situation can help you find clarity and perspective, leading you to approach your children with the mindset of curiosity, compassion, and teaching.

Breathing is a powerful tool that can help us regulate our emotions and regain composure when we are experiencing intense feelings. The next time you’re feeling overwhelmed or upset with your kids, try taking deep, calming breaths before you react. Breathe in through your nose and out of your mouth, counting to three each time. You can even try closing your eyes, if that feels comfortable for you. By using your breath to slow down and take a moment before responding, you can have a healthier, more constructive interaction with your child.

It’s easy to lose composure as a parent, especially when things get stressful. We all have moments when we get so overwhelmed that it’s hard to regulate our emotions and express our feelings in a healthy way. However, losing your temper and yelling can often make the situation worse. Thankfully, there are many strategies parents can use to calm down, regain composure, and respond in a way that strengthens their relationship with their child.

We are passionate about helping parents develop healthy relationships with their children and believe that a big part of this involves parent education. Throughout the next week, HRI will be providing helpful tips to help you regain your composure during difficult and stressful moments with your kids. We hope that these parenting strategies will help you develop a happier and healthier relationship with your child!