With tornado sirens howling, thunder crashing and lightening forking through dark clouds, most anyone might feel a mixture of unease and awe with nature’s dramatic display. Many families, however, would prefer to skip the show given the emotional havoc storms wreak on their kids.
Do you have a child who won’t cooperate with your requests? Do you repeat yourself so often that you sometimes feel invisible? Don’t get frustrated! Don’t yell, beg or threaten! Instead, try one of these fun and effective approaches.
I have just discovered the existence of a fabulous day, worthy of celebration. It occurs right before Mother’s Day, and may be even better! It’s called Clean Up Your Room Day and it occurs every year on May 10. Picture your child’s bedroom as neat as a pin without nagging or threats...skeptical? Me too!
Kids test parents’ patience all the time. They whine, bargain, cry, mope and dawdle. They yell and scream and make themselves the centre of attention. Sometimes they dig their heels in and simply refuse to budge. While we may wish our kids would be compliant, cooperative and sunny in temperament, the reality is that they are doing exactly what they’re supposed to be doing. They are learning how to manage their emotions, whether it’s sadness, anger or fear. Kids do this by expressing themselves in the moment. Unlike adults, most young children don’t hold in what they are feeling. They release pent-up emotions right when they feel them, if we let them, and then they move on!
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