If you’re anything at all like me, you often read about parenting techniques… you even take the time and energy to think about exactly how you’d like to implement them with your family… and then- boom!- something sets you off and you forget all about the wisdom you have recently read.
In the heat of the moment, it is quite challenging to recall wise ideas when your child is in the process of destroying the house you’ve just cleaned, literally or figuratively!
Even if you are an exceptionally calm person right now, learning to lower your frustration tolerance will yield positive and lasting results for your family.
When you increase your ability to handle the ‘little stuff’ that life inevitably throws onto your lap, you will simultaneously be better equipped to handle the ‘big stuff’ - those giant curveballs of life that nobody can avoid!
A thought that helps me get through the challenging days is, “Raising children is not meant to be two decades of peaceful serenity… what’s going on is totally normal!”
What thoughts do you conjure up to bring you calmness during the heat of the moment? Please share them below!
I was recently speaking with my friend Sarah Zeldman, and kind soul that she is- Sarah is allowing you to download her ‘Stress-Relief-Kit-for-Moms’ at no charge! www.solutionsforbusymoms.com/free-stress-relief-kit/ . It’s an awesome way to recharge yourself, put things in perspective, and better nurture yourself so that you can be a more effective nurturer of your children!
Speaking of which, how many of us parents are truly taking the time and energy to nurture our own souls?
Is it possible for happy, confident, and emotionally healthy children to be raised by harried and tense parents?
What do you do to fill your personal ‘emotional bank account’ so that you are not running on empty when it’s time for you to focus on making deposits into your child’s ‘emotional bank account’?
Are you neglecting your personal spiritual, creative, emotional, or social needs because you are so busy with your family? Do yourself a favor and schedule some time here and there for you to recharge! After all, you’re wonderful, however you aren’t Energizer Bunny!
Although not quite the same as chatting with old friends, joining an Internet group of like-minded parents can be a wonderful and relaxing diversion. My friend Alice Seba runs a complementary and very friendly message board specifically for moms here: www.momstalkforum.com.
Depending upon how you were raised, the concept of a parent taking time for him/ herself to relax, unwind, and recharge without the children may seem a bit selfish. Rest assured that the better you take care of yourself, the more effectively a caregiver you will be for your children.
Sometimes, life has a way of keeping us so busy, and everyone else’s needs come first. Schedule time in your calendar to go to a bookstore, get a massage, meet a friend for lunch- whatever speaks to you- and watch a new sense of tranquility manifest itself in your home!
