As a mother, I’m constantly dealing with tricky situations. I’m currently thick in the middle of the ‘Terrible Twos’ and ‘Terrifying Threes’, hence the first parenting prompt in the #momology blog train (details below), really interested me. The prompt is, “What is your secret and most effective #momology or parenting mantra that comes handy in most tricky situations?”. Every parent has an individual outlook to parenting, and every child’s personality is distinct, which means we deal with issues in different ways. Read on to know my personal parenting mantra.
KEEP IN MIND THAT EVERY PROBLEM ISN’T A TRICKY SITUATION:
As parents, we must learn to distinguish between attention-seeking meltdowns and serious problems, and not lose our cool every time our child throws a tantrum. This allows us to correctly evaluate every problem, and enables us to deal with it effectively.
MY MOST EFFECTIVE MANTRA:
By differentiating between frivolous and actually worrying situations, we’re better equipped to deal with all kinds of tricky situations. The first thing I do, no matter the scale of the problem, is to take a step back and BREATHE.
If I don’t stay calm, there is little chance that my child will be calm. I will myself to close my eyes and inhale deeply, and immediately find my heart calming down, and my brain thinking logically. I’m present in the moment and able to multi-task by calming/distracting my child, alongside formulating the correct strategy for dealing with the particular problem at hand.
This mantra also helps to ensure that the child feels reassured. Our children pick up on signals through our behaviour. If we send out signals of extreme worry and/ or unpreparedness, they’re adversely affected. A composed parent ensures the child is able to communicate in a calm and coherent manner.
Picture courtesy: http://www.youtube.com
DON’T BE TOO HARD ON YOURSELF:
Having shared my secret, I also want to make it clear that sometimes our best intentions fail, and we find ourselves losing our calm. Don’t stress, that’s not the end of the world. We’re humans, not superheroes (as much as our children would like to believe of us!), and we can never be perfect parents.
Don’t berate yourself on reacting badly in a tricky situation. Instead, learn from it, and be better prepared in the future because tricky situations will never end!
It’s imperative that we put every problem in its correct perspective, and remember that stressful moment will certainly pass. I agree with a dear aunt of mine, who once said to me, “small children, small problems; big children, big problems!”
What are your most effective mantras to dealing with tricky situations? Please share them in the comments below. Share this post with someone you think would like to read it!
This post is part of the #Momology Blog Train hosted by ThoughtsbyGeethica, SlimExpectations, Mummasaurus and Truly Yours Roma sponsored by FirstCry Intellikit, Instacuppa, Diet Funda, Hugs n Tugs, Tina Basu, Unorthodox Peeps, Lotus Herbals Baby and Shumee Toys. I would like to thank Misha for introducing me in the Momology Blog Train. You can read more about her work at http://www.freshlybakedhead.com. I would like to introduce Keerthana who blogs at http://www.activelifeliving.com.
*Unless specified, pictures are taken on my phone. Copyright belongs to nooranandchawla.
**This is not a sponsored post