Feel familiar…?
It’s Monday and you’re getting ready to log onto your weekly, mid-morning work call. It’s been a hectic morning, the coffee maker broke and you can’t seem to find your headset. You put on a movie for your kiddos to ensure a quiet environment for your call. You log on and one minute into the call, one of your kids interrupts asking for popcorn. The other starts tapping on your shoulder. You put yourself on mute and off-camera, and yell at your kids through gritted teeth: “BE QUIET NOW OR NO MOVIE!!!”
You’re not proud of your reaction, but you feel cornered. If you feel like this as a parent: you are not alone. It may be time for a Parenting Rewind. When you find yourself in these situations, the first step is to connect to yourself and regulate your own emotions, so you can connect with your child and help them regulate theirs. When a child is bidding for your attention, what they’re actually bidding for is connection.
Being able to connect to ourselves when we are overwhelmed and triggered can be difficult. Remember to have patience with yourself and your child because all skills take practice! Work with your child to come up with ways to help them when you’re busy, but are seeking connection. Try setting a timer the next time you’re on a meeting or phone call. Establish a hand signal that they can use when they need to get your attention. This reminds them that their needs and your boundaries are both important. You got this!
Get more tips using our Parenting Rewind scripts each week here.
Note: The accompanying script to this Parenting Rewind video is available in the member’s dashboard available with family and professional subscriptions. Learn more here!
