One of the things that nobody tells you before you have kids is how many times you’ll lose your calm and what a struggle it is to stay patient! How irritating it can be, to wipe the water of the table every single time, and how annoying it is to have a toddler who takes eternity to put on their shoes.
But kids are predictable: they learn and they have the need of trying new things. They learn the rules of their home and the society they live in. And they learn by trial and error. So what might seem like a very bad idea to you, for your kid it’s simply a way of checking how things work.
So obviously kids will take their time. They won’t always listen. They’ll try doing things their way. Realizing this can save your sanity! Because in the end your kids are not trying to drive you crazy, they just want to understand the very complex world they live in.
But I know it’s tough to always stay patient, and yet it’s so worth trying! Because when mom is upset and tense, the kids get upset and misbehaving.
So if you are getting angry and annoyed before you even had breakfast, here are my tips for staying patient and calm. (some affiliate links included)
Tips for Keeping Your Patience With Kids
1. First remember these things:
- Your kids are constantly learning by trial and error. So let them make mistakes.
- Kids need to try on their own, how things work, including how you work, and what will upset you, what will make you smile and what will give them your attention.
- Coordination isn’t fully developed so it’s not really their fault that they spill the juice and break things!
((PS. if you’re mornings are as crazy and chaotic as mine, you’ve gotta check out Make Over Your Mornings!))
2. It’s just a phase, it will pass.
If you think that this situation will never change, then you live in a constant stress. But if you realize that it’s just a moment in your life that’ll pass, then you can feel calmer and more patient.
3. Breathe and count to ten.
Breathing helps relax the muscles, so take a deep breath. It may help you speak calm.
4. Think what are you grateful for.
You can’t stay stressed while you feel grateful. So try thinking about at least one thing that you’re grateful for at that particular moment.
I know it’s not always easy to stay patient but realizing these things about kids hopefully may help you as it did help me!
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I’m Joanna, the writer, photographer and content creator behind the Lazy Mom’s Blog. I have a master’s degree in psychology, so I’m passionate by all that’s human nature, behavior and culture. I love sharing my parenting tips, homemaking advice, recipes and crafts.
Gilberto Koepp says
It is important that you keep your patience with your kids and students. Kids are no different from adults and they can be very frustrating to deal with sometimes. One of the most important things that a parent or teacher should do is to keep their patience. You must remember that no matter how much trouble you think your child is causing, there will always be someone who has it worse than them at some point or another. The best thing you can do for yourself as a parent or teacher is to remember this and take things one day at a time. You also need to make things easier and interesting for students by guiding them towards educational tools like https://fixgerald.com/ and so many others. If you allow yourself to get frustrated by one particular incident, then it can lead to more frustration in the future as well as ongoing problems with your relationship with your child or student.