31/05/2021
Real talk: the ONLY thing that feels worse than losing your sh*t on your kid? The debilitating, gut wrenching guilt that comes afterwards.
Then you scroll through instagram and see Katrina and her perfect kids and her perfect crafts and think to yourself "I'm the WORST Mom. I'm just not cut out to do this."(Dads this guilt is REAL for you too)
Can I be honest with you? I have read every gentle/respectful parenting book, I have read and logged research on gentle discipline/parenting. I know every tip and tool to calm myself, and my toddler. And? I have, and will continue to lose my sh*t when stretched past my breaking point. Guys, it's human nature. We all lose our sh*t.💩
Katrina, your perfect SIL, toddler experts (🙋🏻♀️🙋🏼♀️), gentle parenting experts: we have ALL lost our sh*t on our kids. And you know what? Every single one of us, yourself included, is a GREAT parent, even if you lost your sh*t today.💯
Here's how you combat that guilt: REPAIR. Show your child that big emotions happen, that you felt ANGRY. Then, model exactly what you'd want YOUR kid to do when THEY messed up and lashed out: apologize.
🌈 HOW TO REPAIR WITH YOUR KID🌈
START WITH SORRY: ✨”I want to say I’m sorry.”✨
TELL THE STORY: ✨“Earlier, I got so stressed out, and I yelled.”✨
OK THEIR FEELINGS: ✨”I’m sorry if I scared you or made you feel sad.”✨
REINFORCE YOUR LOVE: ✨”I love you so much.”✨
TEACH THOSE COPING SKILLS: ✨”I will do a better job at not yelling when I have big feelings.”✨
🌈HOW TO REPAIR WITH YOURSELF🌈
This is just as important as repairing with your kid. You MUST restore + repair YOURSELF to show up a better parent tomorrow. Housewives, a run, boxing, whatever it is that YOU need.
If you're stuck in an endless yelling cycle, please know that you're not alone. And? You deserve the help, tools, and SPECIFIC strategies to get out of this endless power struggle dynamic.🌪️