Or in this case…a bad week.
What can I say? Last week was really tough at the Nelson household. I’ve been super busy with work, both the kids and my husband have been sick, I haven’t been able to go to they gym to exercise, and the sky has been grey and cloudy (a huge problem for someone who is solar powered).
It was a rough week. I lost it with my kids on more than one occasion and was frequently snippy and short with them, and got more and more frustrated with myself each time I did it.
Give Yourself Permission to Have a Bad Day
It was only when I finally gave myself permission to have an off day (or week in this particular instance) I was able to start turning my tailspin around and getting back to my normal cheerful self.
Do Ya Feel It?
Why is it so important to acknowledge what you are feeling and to give yourself permission to feel it?
Through studying the brain, scientists have discovered that as soon as you label an emotion or the way you are feeling, your brain physically is able to begin to shut down the adrenaline or fight/flight response, thus helping you to calm down and get over it.
When you deny yourself the permission to feel what you are really feeling, it is much harder for the brain to shut those chemical responses down, thus making it that much harder for you to pull out of your funk and move on.
Sound Suspiciously Easy?
Maybe it does. Just telling myself I’m having a bad day and that I’m feeling really grouchy and frustrated is going to make it better? Well, why not?
I’ve been using this practice of acknowledging emotions with my kids for over a year now, and I am still amazed at how well it diffuses major meltdowns and halts drama in its tracks. This stuff works!
Parenting By Minute: 60 Second Tips
When you feel yourself melting down or feeling super frustrated at your kids for whining, bickering, picking on the cat, or creating an artistic masterpiece on the wall with permanent marker, take a minute and let yourself feel frustrated. Tell your kids what you are feeling, acknowledge that you are upset, call a friend who is a great listener and then allow yourself to move on.
I frequently tell parents, “Remember, turkeys are for stuffing, NOT emotions.”
