“Are you kidding me? You don’t need another burrito especially since you haven’t eaten the first one! Move the food closer to your plate so you don’t spill it everywhere!”
These are completely rational and justified reasons to yell at your kids…said no one ever. Sure, I may have been right but the way I said them definitely could have been kinder.
Is there anything more humbling than apologizing to your kids after you treated them poorly?
A few minutes after reacting this way I asked myself, “What is going on that has you so stressed?” I knew immediately what the issue was.
I am guessing I am not the only one who has acted this way before so what would cause you to be stressed and react this way?
For me, it was work. I had brought work home with me instead of leaving it at the shop. My kids were the unfortunate targets for my frustration instead of me working through my problems to find a solution.
I found each kid after supper to apologize for my actions. I know this won’t be the last time I overreact but I hope my kids can focus less on the overreaction and more on the fact that dad is willing to own his actions and apologize.
No parent is perfect so give yourself some grace and focus on doing better every day.