Do your weekday mornings often lead to stressful situations, frustration, unnecessary conflicts and arguments with your kids? Many parents often “lose it” and end up having a really bad start in the morning because of issues that kids may brought up. By taking these parenting tips, you can reduce these problems, lessen stress and help your family work together as an efficient team in the morning.
issues to address with your children and what are the
small stuffs that can be discussed in another time.
Take note of your situation and see what really goes wrong in your mornings. Knowing the root cause of the problem is crucial in determining what needs to be changed or stopped to improve your morning routine. Observe the things that go well and those that don’t. Also, notice your reactions and your emotional state and note when and where the meltdown starts. It is also a good parenting tip for you to ask your spouse and kids about their opinion and experiences to help you decide which must be changed to meet everyone’s needs.
Prepare for possible “hindrances” to limit disruption and plan you changes for 10 minutes the night before and extra more minutes to get ready in the morning. Recognize the value of organization and getting things ready the night before. Be sure to check their assignments, lay out their clothes, and prepare lunch and that their bags are packed and ready for school. Wake up a bit earlier than your usual time and wake your kids 10 minutes earlier so that they will not feel rushed or frantic. Talk to your kids about what they think constitute a “good breakfast” and prepare the things that needed in the kitchen the night before.
As parent, you should also know the most important issues to address with your children and what are the small stuffs that can be discussed in another time. Ask yourself if it’s worth the argument or is it the best time to discuss the issue before diving into it. If it doesn’t concern safety and if it’s a minor thing, tell your child that you will discuss the matter in the evening when you are all thinking clearly and calmly. Taking your time to think about an issue will help reduce your stress and give you more time to organize your thoughts.
Another parenting tip to help you during these stressful times is to develop and take advantage of some strategies that will help you stay calm and collected during stressful mornings. If you feel like you’re close to “losing it,” do some breathing exercise, meditate and or simply take a few moments in a quiet place and away from the chaos. Once you feel calmer, you can better tackle these crazy mornings!
Image Credit:
David Castillo Dominici – FreeDigitalPhotos.Net
