How Do You Explain Stressed Out To Your Kids?
Last week was pretty stressful for me and on Friday I surprised even myself when I explained the whole stressed out mommy thing to the boys in hopes that they would understand it and be good boys for me while I did the tons of things on my to-do lists for work, errands, and them.
I almost didn’t believe how calm I was when I told them, "Today, Mommy is pretty stressed out because she has so much to do. Mommies are really busy people. They have to do things for Daddy, for their work, for the house, make sure everyone has something to eat and do fun things with you. Sometimes, she has too much to do because a lot of people need her to do things.
You know like when I say to you, all at once, 'Put on your shoes, pick up your toys, why is there toilet paper all over the floor and put on your jacket. When Mommy says all that stuff at one time, you go pretty crazy don't you?"
They listened as I explained and agreed with me.
I continued on with my explanation by saying, "So, what I need from you today is to be really, really good while Mommy does the things she need to do. If I can get everything done, we'll have time to go to Walmart and to the gym. Then when we get home, I want you to be really good, so Mommy can get all that stuff done, so she doesn't have to be grumpy or have a temper tantrum."
Both boys were total angels all day long and I wonder exactly what it was that I said that got them. Probably when I put things they could actually relate to, when I pile on too many things for them at once. They could relate because they had a specific example of something that happens in their lives, not just Mommy or Daddy’s.
When I put them to bed, my youngest said, "We were good today. Do you feel better now?" I did!
How do you explain to your kids when you’ve got a busy day ahead and just want them to behave so you can get everything done, without having a stressed out household all day?
I almost didn’t believe how calm I was when I told them, "Today, Mommy is pretty stressed out because she has so much to do. Mommies are really busy people. They have to do things for Daddy, for their work, for the house, make sure everyone has something to eat and do fun things with you. Sometimes, she has too much to do because a lot of people need her to do things.
You know like when I say to you, all at once, 'Put on your shoes, pick up your toys, why is there toilet paper all over the floor and put on your jacket. When Mommy says all that stuff at one time, you go pretty crazy don't you?"
They listened as I explained and agreed with me.
I continued on with my explanation by saying, "So, what I need from you today is to be really, really good while Mommy does the things she need to do. If I can get everything done, we'll have time to go to Walmart and to the gym. Then when we get home, I want you to be really good, so Mommy can get all that stuff done, so she doesn't have to be grumpy or have a temper tantrum."
Both boys were total angels all day long and I wonder exactly what it was that I said that got them. Probably when I put things they could actually relate to, when I pile on too many things for them at once. They could relate because they had a specific example of something that happens in their lives, not just Mommy or Daddy’s.
When I put them to bed, my youngest said, "We were good today. Do you feel better now?" I did!
How do you explain to your kids when you’ve got a busy day ahead and just want them to behave so you can get everything done, without having a stressed out household all day?
posted by Alice at 4:04 PM
NEW! 
1 Comments:
I've never thought about explaining my stress to the boys in such a simple way that they could understand it.
No wonder they were cooperative.
I'm going to have to try that.
Thanks for sharing!
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