Dealing with Anger as a Parent

Parental anger is normal sometimes. But, if you know how to react when overwhelmed by it, you can keep things under control.

Here are a few tips to help you retain your composure during an anger outburst.

Control Your Emotions

Parenting is fun, provided you know how to manage your temper. Anger is normal. Everyone gets angry at some point of time, but you need to control yourself. As it is a normal human emotion, it can be a good attribute too. Express your anger, talk to your child, but keep in mind that in no way you take that rage out on them. You need to know how to react tactfully to every bad situation. Losing your temper can make your problem worse and lead you into an awkward situation.

Heal Your Angry Past

Parenting is difficult, but it can be therapeutic too, especially if your past is filled with unresolved anger. You can identify the root cause of the problem and your past can act as a great motivation to fix the problem. You must take steps to heal yourself before you harm your child in the flow of your emotions. Always remember that children often imitate their parents, so if they see a chronically angry face and hear words in an angry voice, they are likely to imitate that and become an angry person themselves.

Manage Your Anger!

Often it is difficult to maintain a balance between your life, office, family, household chores, and social activities. When you're tired, it's easy to lose patience and get angry when things do not go as expected. At a particular stage, you feel frustrated and an inner conflict starts from that moment. You feel down and unsupported. What gets most affected during this time is your parenting. Remember, if you neglect your children or yell at them, you might be more likely to overreact in some situations.

Follow these simple tips to manage your anger:

  • Recognise Signs of Anger- This is the first step for all parents. Notice the early signs of anger and accept the fact that you are angry. Observe which event or action irritates you the most.
  • Calm Yourself Down- Often anger flickers inwardly, as well as outwardly. The best way to start controlling your outburst is with back counting numbers. You can also take a deep breath and exhale or go to some other room for a few minutes until you feel better.
  • Reconsider the Situation- Rethink the situation and talk about it when you calm down. It will help you to control anger in similar situations in the future. Judge from both the perspectives. Question your inner mind and express your feelings to your child.
  • Listen to Your Child- Often you tend to ignore others' views when you are angry. That is not right. Listen to your child too. Before reaching any conclusion, have a clear conversation with your child also.

Set a Good Example for Your Child

'Sorry' is not just a word, it is an emotion. Therefore, whenever you yell or lose temper, it is fine to be sorry. Portray your child that it is normal to get angry, but it is also important to find healthy ways of controlling your anger. Make sure your children never develop trust issues. Let them talk to you freely. It's your responsibility to set a good example before them. It has been proven that if you get nervous or anxious in front of your children it creates anxiety in them. So, as a parent you need to calm down and be patient. Always remember, calmness is contagious.

Source: https://www.newwomanindia.com/5-excellent-waysto-deal-anger-parent/