12 Ways To Stay Calm And Keep Your Temper During Spring Break

As much as we all love our children, there are times when they can make even the most mild-mannered parents fly off the handle. And those times are never more likely than during school holidays, when parents get little respite from their darlings and devils.

It is, of course, perfectly normal to lose your temper with your kids, and it’s just as normal to feel bad about it afterwards.

“There’s a line between being justifiably cross with your child and completely losing your rag, and parents tend to know when they’ve crossed it. Unfortunately, this realisation usually occurs just after it’s happened,” says Justine Roberts, founder of the parents’ social networking site Mumsnet

Here are Mumsnet users’ top tips for holding on to the threads of your temper during the holidays…

1. Remove Yourself From The Situation
If you’re suddenly in the middle of what you know is a heated situation, walk away (so long as you’re sure the children are in a safe place). Put a locked door between you and the child in question and give yourself 10-15 minutes to calm down.

2. Try Reverse Psychology

Instead of just reacting to whatever it is your child’s doing that’s making you mad, try using reverse psychology. For example, your child might be more willing to put on her shoes if she thinks you really don’t mind whether she does or not (even though the truth is you do mind. A lot…).

3. Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff
Try not to overreact to smaller things. If you normally end up shouting and screaming because your child won’t put their coat on, try to take a step back and ask if it really matters. After all, your child will learn from the consequences of their actions by getting cold, so they may be more inclined to wear their coat next time.

4. Avoid A Battle Of Wills

Try not to frame everything as a battle of wills. Instead, see if you can get your child to help you find a good solution, for example, by saying: ‘This room is really messy and if all the toys stay on the floor like this, they’re going to get broken or lost. What can we do about it?’

5. Pummel A Pillow!
Roberts says some Mumsnet users swear by a few minutes of really vigorous activity to dispel the rising adrenaline; try star jumps, sprinting, or pummelling a pillow.

6. Try Mindfulness
Check out some online mindfulness courses; lots of apps and sites will give you the first few sessions free. It can help you learn how to recognise your temper’s rising, and give you techniques, such as relaxation breathing, to put you back in control. Remember, it’s important to look after yourself, as well as looking after your children.