Tension rises! We’re late! Kids dawdle! The phone rings! I stub my toe! We’re late! Move it!
Your darling child wants to tell you a long story. The sink gets stopped up and runs over. You suddenly realize you haven’t had time to . . .
How can you stop the volcano from erupting?
Take a deep breath and think. What is the worst case scenario if we are late? Will it really matter in 6 months? Will they have permanent scars for not being on time? No. No. No.
There may be some minor consequence. But is that worth being so upset? Could my shouting and irritability actually be doing more harm than our being late?
Defusing the Eruption
Slow down and deal with the obstacles one at a time?
Dial down the tension. Everyone is likely to have a better start to the day if the tension is less and a few more smiles and hugs are shared.
If you find you are always late getting out the door, you should look at how to better prepare ahead of time. Realize it takes kids longer than it does you to do most tasks.
- So plan for more time. Choosing clothes and filling book bags can be a chore before bedtime.
- An earlier bedtime so everyone can wake up earlier and be fully rested can make the morning easier.
- Find some humor in the situation. A chuckle or a silly song can relieve a lot of tension.
What do you do to dial down the stress of getting out the door? Comment here or on the Facebook post.
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