Frustrated With Children? You're Not Alone!

By Randi Morse

Children are a blessing. They're the greatest gift you could ever be given. But, let's be honest here, children can also be extremely frustrating.The other day I was at the grocery store and watched a mother dealing with a screaming 4-year-old daughter. As she walked past me I gave her a sympathetic smile and told her that it would get better, as did another woman. The moment she was out of earshot, the second mother looked at me and laughed and said, "do you feel bad we just lied to her? It definitely doesn't get easier, just gets difficult in a different way!"

Toddlers to Teens

I read a psychology paper once that claimed babies are adorable so that we can handle putting up with all of the frustration that comes with raising them.After raising two children, I can understand why the psychologist would believe this. Raising babies, and toddlers, is stressful, but raising teens is also stressful, just in a different way. No matter whether you are raising toddlers, or teenagers, it's important to not compare your child with others, and to not compare your experiences with those of other parents. Every child/parent relationship is different, but getting frustrated more easily with one child than the other doesn't make you a bad parent nor does it make your child bad, it's just a product of the type of relationship you have with each other.

Avoiding Frustration

So, how do you avoid getting frustrated at your children? There are a few things you can do. One trick I always used was to think of it like a game. If the kids made me extremely frustrated or mad, I lost. This worked for me because I'm a very competitive person. Another trick some parents use is to lower their voices rather than raise them. It's very easy to get loud when you are frustrated, but the more elevated your voice gets, the louder your child is going to get it. Instead, lower your voice and speak more softly. They have to be quiet to hear you which tends to bring the whole conversation down a few notches. 

Your children are going to frustrate you, there is no denying that fact. It's important to remember that you are the parents, you are the adult, and it is your responsibility to teach your child how to handle situations in a calm manner, and the easiest way to do that is by showing them how calm you can remain even in the most frustrating of times.

To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in New Braunfels, Tex.