How To Avoid Losing Your Patience With Your Kids

In my ten years of parenting, if there is one thing I’ve learned, it’s that your patience is tested every day. You have a choice for how to handle every single situation. And when patience is practiced during difficult ones, the outcomes are always more impactful on everyone, especially the children. But how do you avoid losing your patience with your kids?

How To Avoid Losing Your Patience With Your Kids

It’s not hard to lose patience with small, demanding children needing you so much throughout the day. Especially in the grind of work, dealing with stressful deadlines, running errands, managing finances and keeping the house clean.

Any one of these things going wrong can set you off. And when it’s taken out on your children, it can not only have a negative impact on them but it can cause some major guilt for you when you’ve overreacted.

It’s a daily practice to make sure you are a patient parent. And trust me mamas, it’s hard. But if you’ve ever been through it, you’ll know it’s so important for your child’s self-esteem. As a parent, your child models your behavior and learns from your reactions. But as much as you try, situations in which you lose your patience are bound to happen. Use these tips to help you avoid losing your patience with your kids.

Avoid Losing Your Patience Tip #1: Put down devices and listen

One of my biggest sources of impatience is when I am in the middle of something, like reading something or writing a blog post, and my children are constantly interrupting me or needing something. When it comes down to it, they are what’s important. So instead of getting frustrated, put down the device and listen. Take five minutes to teach them how they can help themselves next time. The hardest thing to do is connect with your child while you are on your computer or cell phone.

Avoid Losing Your Patience Tip #2: Make time for yourself

Because you know your kids certainly won’t. They will take every ounce of time you have if you don’t schedule time for yourself. Which can be a patience drainer! Whether it’s getting a pedicure, making it to the gym or planning a vacation. You need this time off so you don’t take it out on your kids when you ask them once again to clean their room. Don’t feel guilty about taking time for yourself—there is nothing better to reset your patience meter than coming home from doing something you love.

Avoid Losing Your Patience Tip #3: Identify your anger triggers

Everyone has them. If you are able to identify yours, you’ll be more likely to avoid those situations or stop the impatient reaction from coming out when you can’t. Pint-sized Treasures blog has an amazing post about types of anger triggers that may help you find which ones set you off. Plus isn’t “anger triggers” a fun saying?

Avoid Losing Your Patience Tip #4: Remember your child is watching

When the feeling of frustration and impatience starts to bubble up, remember, your child is right there, watching what you do next, and learning how to behave. Act the way you would want your child to in a similar situation. Everything is a learning opportunity with small children and this should always be in the back of your mind.

How To Avoid Losing Your Patience With Your Kids

As your little one continues to learn and grow through the stages of life, remember that with the power of patience, and a positive attitude, you can accomplish any challenges that are thrown your way. Practicing patience will allow you to stay level-headed and calm, finding solutions to problems instead of feeling stressed. And it will foster a bright and loving relationship with your children.