Just Breathe
Hello Friends,
I had a Mommy Moment this morning.
I've had worse....but this was pretty bad.
My baby boy started screaming crying, and I turned around to see my daughter trying to stuff something in his mouth! She had his head pinned back and was going to town trying to get him to eat some of her breakfast! I LOST it! I totally screamed at her and told her to sit down somewhere or it was going to be "POW POW"!
Maybe that doesn't sound all that bad, but the yell that came out of mouth was positively otherworldly and it scared all of the kids half to death! They all braked and looked at me like "We done done it now....".
This scenario actually happens to me quite often. I am one of those yelling Mamas. Yes....its true. My name is MeShel Bussey, and I am a Yeller. I wish that I could control my emotions better with these kids. They just take me there sometimes. Maybe you are like me. You were a hothead before you became a Mommy, and that didn't really change just because you have little goobers now. In fact, it's probably worse. Or perhaps you've always been even-tempered, but these kids have brought out a side in you that you didn't even know you had.
Whatever the case may be, I along with you, probably could use some tips on managing my temper. We need to make sure that we are teaching while disciplining, rather than just yelling out of frustration.
Here are some things that I try to keep in mind.
1. Breathe- I love the song "Breathe" by Jonny Diaz. When I first heard it, I literally took a breath and was instantly relieved and more levelheaded. Breathe and try to calm yourself before you do or say something irrational.
2. Walk Away- Walk away if you have to. For example, when I turn around and the kids have made an unbelievable mess sometimes I just walk away. I bite my fist, and come back in a minute once the initial shock has worn off.
3. Tap Out- Sometimes, when my husband is home and my nerves are bad after an entire day of kid-wrangling, I just raise the white flag and tap out of the game. I say "Honey, take them. You're in charge the rest of the night." Mr. Bussey is so cool that most of the time I don't even have to say anything...just look at him...and he knows. Hand the reins over to whoever is around. Daddy, grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts and uncles...USE THEM!
4. Take A Break- This is similar to tapping out but it's more like making sure that you're getting some time away at least once a week. Go out and run some errands alone, or sit in the coffee shop and read for an hour. Have a prayer hour in a park somewhere. Give yourself a mental, emotional, and spiritual break. Now it's kind of crazy that I'm telling you all to do this when I don't even do it myself! But I know it's the right thing to do, and I'm working on getting my family's schedule in order so that Mr. Bussey and I can each get some more time away. I know that I would be so much more calmer if I did this. { Don't be like me.}
God didn't give us these children to drive us crazy! He wants to drive us closer to Him! He is the God of Peace. Peace. Peace. Again....God of Peace. Try one, two or all of my above tactics. Also, let me know if you have any other techniques that you use to keep from losing it on your kids.
"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."
~ 2 Timothy 1:7
