5 Ways to Keep Your Cool With Frustrating Kids

No one said parenting was going to be easy, but somehow many of us never realized how true that would be.

Kelly, a frazzled mom of a 5-year-old son and a 7-year-old daughter, emailed me with this scenario: “Most of my days start off with a struggle because one of my kids gets up at the crack of dawn and the other one won’t get out of bed unless I practically pull her out. By the time the school bus comes, I’ve yelled a handful of times because they dawdle and take forever to get dressed. At night I’m super stressed after working at a job I’m not crazy about and by the time the weekend comes, I’m tired, cranky, and lose my patience at the drop of a hat. I know it isn’t fair to my kids, but I’m not sure how to catch myself before I blow my stack each time. Help!”

How many of us can relate to Kelly’s daily grind? I know I've had plenty of days like that, especially when my eight kids were younger and so needy. I felt like a shepherd herding a bunch of cattle out the door each morning. And that hour right before dinner used to make me want to hide in my bedroom until morning.

Don't worry, Kelly, all is not lost. Although our kids can bring us to our breaking point, they don't have to send us overboard. Mighty Mommy shares 5 ways to keep your temper in check, no matter how much your kids annoy you.

5 Ways to Keep Your Cool With Kids 

1. Learn Your Triggers and Patterns
2. Giver Yourself Permission to Be Quiet
3. Breathe
4. Don’t Be Afraid to Apologize
5. Reward Yourself for Good Behavior

Here’s a closer look at each one:

Learn Your Triggers and Patterns

One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned in my 25 years of parenting is that it may not be possible to change how a child is acting, but how I choose to respond to the behavior is in my control. I know, that's easier said than done, especially when you’re exhausted from a crappy day at work and the last thing you want to do is argue with your kindergartner to stop using the kitchen island as the racetrack for his matchbox cars while you scramble to throw something palatable together for dinner.

The first step in keeping yourself calm and together is to anticipate what usually sets you off. ...

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