How to Be a Calm Mom

Your child feeds off your mood, so keeping your emotions in check can help your little one stay calm and relaxed. Finding your emotional balance involves reducing overall stress and learning to handle parenting situations when your child pushes your buttons. From temper tantrums at the grocery store to refusing to eat dinner, controlled reactions help you become a calmer mom.

Instructions

    • 1

      Meet your own needs so you aren't constantly hungry, tired or out of shape. With a full night of sleep, you have the energy to handle what your kids dish out. Nutritious food supports your energy and improves your health. Exercise improves your endurance and reduces your stress.

    • 2

      Reduce the stress in your life. If you are dealing with excess stress, even if the source isn't related to your child, you are more likely to snap at your children. The stress drains your patience, making it more difficult to handle additional stress that comes with parenting. Even small issues, such as an argument between siblings, can cause you to overreact if you're already stressed. Eliminate as many stressful factors in your life as possible. Learn to handle your stress with exercise, yoga, breathing and relaxation techniques.

    • 3

      Get out of the house without your child to give yourself a break. The time on your own helps you keep your sense of self. Too much time spent only meeting the needs of others may lead to resentment or frustration that makes it difficult to stay calm. Use the time alone to connect with old friends, pursue your hobbies or pamper yourself. If you can't leave the house, schedule downtime at home for you to relax in the tub, read a book or another activity.

    • 4

      Put aside your negative feelings when dealing with your child's behaviors. Her crayon drawings on the wall make you angry, but screaming doesn't make the poorly placed artwork disappear. Handle the situation in a matter-of-fact way to avoid blowing up at your little one.

    • 5

      Breathe deeply and count to 10 when you feel like screaming at your child. Count higher if you need additional time to calm down. Close your eyes and visualize a calming scene. Practicing relaxation techniques in the heat of the moment can help you keep the anger under control.

    • 6

      Walk away from a difficult parenting situation that makes you lose your cool as long as your child is safe. A momentary break from the situation allows you to regain your composure so you don't lash out at your child.

    • 7

      Apologize to your little one if you do lose your temper. Talk about your emotions with your child so she learns how to handle her own feelings. Seeing you work through the situation shows her it's okay to feel angry sometimes if you learn how to manage it.

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