Toddler tantrums are a force to be reckon’ with and lately, we’ve had our fair share, and patient parenting isn’t always on my mind. Between 2 toddlers learning and exerting independence and experimenting with boundaries, the meltdowns are so often, I’ve almost come to expect and anticipate them. One thing I’ve been working on that is OH SO IMPORTANT is keeping my cool when sh*t hits the fan, even at 90mph! Now, I’m no parenting expert but there’s a few things that I’ve noticed that truly seem to work for me when meltdowns strike so I thought I’d share them with you… because I 100% know I am not alone in struggling to be patient!
–Counting… yep, the age old “calm down” technique works for adults too! I’ve been counting with Easton when he loses it and it’s been helping both of us to stay cool, calm, and collected. I usually hold his hand and together we count to 10 and then both take a big (over-exaggerated) deep breath! By this time, he’s finished crying and can use his words to tell me why he upset and I’m able to listen!
-Distraction… moving on quickly to something way more exciting like “let’s count these m&m’s so we can eat 3 of them” may seem like a reward for tantrum behavior but actually it’s a great way for us ALL to just LET IT GO! Whatever it was… whether the tantrum was over a taken toy, spilled milk, etc… letting it go and swiftly moving on can do us all a world of good!
-Act like someone is always watching… being a stay at home/work at home mom can be exhausting and result in extreme irritability, especially behind closed doors. Acting as if someone is always watching, or as if we’re in public, is my best tip possible! It’s so true… We’re less likely to show our ‘crazy’ when eyes are upon us!
-And when all else fails, get out of the house, even if it’s during the ever sacred ‘nap time’… go in public, where someone is actually watching! Now, I’m not telling you to take your tantrum throwing toddler to a quite coffee shop, but simply getting out to the park or even just a stroll around the neighborhood can be good for the both of you in so many ways! Fresh air, new sights, new sounds, new smells… it all helps to distract from the reasons to throw tantrums in the first place!
Do you have any tried and true tips for patient parenting? I’d love to know what other’s are doing to keep their cool when their tiny humans are losing their minds =) Drop a comment below!
