Stress-Free Parenting : Stop the Screaming
Kids don’t come with handbooks and if they did, they probably would still bend all the rules. Your children will challenge you as a parent. They will challenge the rules and they will also test their limits and boundaries and these are all normal, healthy things for a child to do. Still, there are going to be times when your child will test you and you’re going to get stressed, angry, frustrated or any number of other emotions.
One of the most important things you can learn as a parent is when and how to pick your battles. Some things just aren’t worth fighting over and this doesn’t mean you’re letting your child do whatever he or she wants. It just means that you recognize that not everything needs to be “a thing” and sometimes the best thing you can do is just let something go.
When to Stand Your Ground
So the first choice of when to stand your ground would be the obvious. If your child is in a situation that is going to hurt them or someone else, you need to stand your ground. You need to step in as the parent and not allow this to happen. There will be times that you must do something about the situation and there will be times when you need to direct your child’s behavior to help teach them an important lesson.
When to Let it Go
There are some times that you really don’t have to make a big deal over it. You should ask yourself, “Is this really worth fighting over?” or “Is this really causing any harm?” Maybe you’re just feeling frustrated with the situation. Maybe there is stress or you’re tired. A good way to assess the situation is to involve your child.
Try saying, “I am not happy with your behavior right now. What do you think I should do about it?”
Sometimes just the expression of your displeasure is enough to set your child back on the right path. Generally, they do just want to please us. You’re bringing attention to the fact that you’re not happy and you’re giving your child the power to do something about it. You’re including her in the lesson. You’re empowering her to do something about it. This is a very important part of parenting.
So you know that parenting isn’t always easy but you can cut back on some of the drama when you choose to pick your battles. What really matters and what can you just let go? Don’t get into a power struggle with your child. Only you can make the decision about when to stand your ground and when to let something go but these guidelines should help you in that decision. And whatever happens, remember you are not alone. We are all on this Stress-free parenting journey.
Leave a Reply