This might be a long one.
I'm wondering if this is anxiety and if there is anything I can do to calm down and keep my temper. I don't think I need to see a gp and would prefer other steps prior to this if possible.
My main concern is around the stress I feel over my children. I have a 6 year old and a 3 year old. The 3 year old is very lively and outgoing- the opposite to his sister. He is very hard to manage and does the typical running off, chasing around, cheeky things that a 3 year old developing his independence does.
His 6 year old sister is quiet, seems to be left out at school a bit and this worries me. She doesn't seem to be settling into friendships like other children and I've developed this panic over her being left behind academically. I think it's shyness, nothing Sen related. She is slightly struggling academically. I teach the same year she is in and can't help but compare her all the time!!! I put far too much pressure on her (I feel I do anyway). But I don't feel I can stop as I'm trying to support her with reading and writing at home (only a few sentences about what she has done that day, and a book to read). I end up snapping at her, banging the table (!!!!!), losing my temper and usually her 3 year old brother is trying to climb all over us or take the pencil from her hand just to make it all so much more stressful. I know he's craving attention and I try to set him off on a colouring activity, jigsaw etc before hand but it doesn't work.
How do I calm down? This was my New Years resolution and I'm determined to crack it before I crack up and ruin my children!!!!
I've tried working with my 6 year old at different times so vary it so it's not just bedtime or meal times etc.
I do feel I need to do the work with her (5 minutes writing and reading a story). I don't feel I'm doing too much work with her, just that I'm being far too hard on her. I don't do this with the children in my class! I'm ruining my children and showing them how to lose their temper 