What to do when you don't know what to do.

What to do when you don't know what to do.

Parenting can be hard.  There are times when I don't know what to do when:
The kids are fighting.
My teen comes home late.
My son is having a tantrum.
My son is crying.
My child can't sleep.

I feel mad, annoyed, irritated, etc. and I want to threaten and have all these consequences, but I know in the moment I am reacting.  

As much as possible I try to keep my mouth shut until I am calmer so I don't say anything I regret.

So here are a few things you can think that will help you to know what to do.

1.  ALLOW whatever feeling you are feeling.  Sometimes I feel bad that I feel annoyed and am not as kind as I'd like to be.  I am actually resisting what I'm feeling and that makes it worse.  So just LET yourself feel whatever you are in the moment.  

2. REMIND yourself that this is just a moment.  You won't feel like this forever.  Find a phrase you believe that helps you remember not to react in the moment.  I tell myself, "I feel frustrated, it's ok to feel frustrated, I know this won't last forever, I don't like feeling this way.  Megan, keep your mouth shut." 

3.  JOURNAL what kind of mom do I want to be? 
                        How do I want to feel?
                        How can I have more fun in my motherhood?
                        What would love do?
                        How can I be kind and follow through with the consequence?

When we are more calm we will have WAY better ideas about what to do when our kids are being kids, and it's hard.  There is no right way to parent, but when you parent from calm and confident you'll feel SO much better about the way you act.  

If this is hard for you, it is for me too.  I have found stuff that works to help me be more consistent in staying calm and not reacting in the moment.  If you'd like to know more reach out to me on IG or join my private FB group and I can help you there.

xoxo,
Megan

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