What do you do when you're stressed and grumpy with your kids?

[DetentionGrrrl]

Does anyone have any tips, or is it just me who feels miserable and incompetent today?

Ds is only 14 months but sometimes he cam be a little sod. I go and play with some of his toys then he comes and joins me and we have fun playing together. Either that or I 'time out' myself in the kitchen tidying up.

put a dvd on
get the treats out (biscuits, crips, whatever)
all sit on the sofa and have a cuddle

Iklboo - that's exactly what i do too! As soon as i sit down on the rug with him and start counting the blocks, putting the animals on the train track etc.. he joins in smiling and happy and then i sort of sneak off a little later and he is happy to continue playing alone.
Only problem these days is that i often can't get back up and am stuck in 13 month old land for longer than expected!!

Go out to the park, then have a drink and a bun at a cafe
Put some music on and dance

shout at them and immediately feel very guilty.

Oh, almost forgot....yesterday after having being alone with DS for 14 hours and being absolutely shattered (new arrival due in couple of weeks) I couldn't take anymore and just stood in the room singing/dancing to a CD - took DS's hands, was really silly with him, he was smiling, clapping hands - probably thought i'd lost it completely but it really helped me and broke the monotony of a long and tiring day. I think we all have those days - do something fun!! Like oliveoil said 'bring on the treats and stuff and let your hair down'

take concious 'time out' somewhere quiet-ish and talk myself through it (that they're kids, they don't mean to be annoying, trhey patently love me very much, i will do a b and c - and then it will be bed time and I can relax with a glass of wine).

then i make some nice coffee and eat some food to get my blood sugar up.

Out the house is often good.

Oh, and the radio.

If they're crying and that's winding me up/winding sibling up, the radio reduces tension - and as oo said can be danced to.

my initial answer was crass and really destraction is an excellent way to break your bad mood and their frustration-lots of good ideas posted[shall be using them myself]

distraction

put on the lazytown CD. Makes DS strip to his nappy and run around and dance like a madman. DD clears the floor and starts doing ballet. Meanwhile I sneak off with a cup of coffee & magazine, until I am feeling less put upon.

Plus the sight of DS can make anyone laugh, especially when he attempts his Sportucus impression (he's 2.5)

I chase them around the house with a rolled-up newspaper.

Play Scissor Sisters 'Take Your Mama Out' REALLY loud and dance around the kitchen while cooking. Sends the DDs scurrying off in embarrassment.