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How did you break the cycle?

92 replies

Need2DoBetter · 01/10/2025 12:37

I’m a single mum to my 3 yr old daughter. I had a difficult relationship with both of my parents growing up. They were both shouters and didn’t have a lot of patience as parents. My mum in particular could be quite aggressive.

I’m finding that I am also losing patience quickly with my daughter and shouting at her often when she doesn’t do as she’s told straight away. I really don’t want to repeat the same mistakes my parents made but I’m finding it very difficult.

I’d honestly probably read something like this and think “just stop shouting” and I am expecting comments like this but if anyone has any genuine tips or advice on how to break the cycle I would be so grateful ❤️

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Ciderapplevinegar · 01/10/2025 12:42

Preplan what you would like to say. If your brain doesn't have a go to you will shout. So for instance, before you get her ready think of the steps:

  • Charlotte in five mins we are going to go and get ready
  • two mins and then we're getting ready
  • time to get ready now, let's go!

If she doesn't start moving, then this is where your planning comes into play

  • it's time to get ready. Do you want to walk or shall I come and get you?
  • (if no response) you're finding it hard to listen so I'm coming to get you (and then calmly pick her up)

The keys to this working are respecting the adults and children need warning that something is about to happen, and then planning what happens if she doesn't finish so you're not left with only shouting. And follow through every time so it's predictable and she actually does start listening!

Ciderapplevinegar · 01/10/2025 12:44

And then you adapt to whatever the situation for listening is. Even if it's a short warning you nearly always have time to say 'I'm going to count to five and then it's time to xyz" but I'd aim for more time as much as possible

Need2DoBetter · 01/10/2025 12:57

@Ciderapplevinegar thank you for your reply. It all makes sense now but when I’m actually in the moment, and she’s not listening to me, I find it so hard to manage my emotions. I need to work on managing expectations because her not getting dressed in the morning or not wanting to have a bath really isn’t the end of the world, but for some reason her not doing as she’s told really triggers me.

The last thing I want is for her to be scared of me or resent me and I want to change but it’s like having to rewire my brain.

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Interested in this thread?

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Ciderapplevinegar · 01/10/2025 13:16

That's exactly what you are doing. And that's why you need to plan out your script because eventually it will become your default response, but you need to consciously build those neural pathways first. You've got this!

estrogone · 01/10/2025 13:17

Could you try 90 seconds of square breathing when you feel like you are going to shout.

Breathe in for four seconds, hold for four seconds, our for four, hold for four. Repeat. Sounds crazy but it is a very good circuit breaker.

The other thing that keeps me honest is when I am on the verge of repeating a dysfunctional pattern that my mother might have taught me, I talk to it. Openly say something like - today I am choosing to do it my way. Thanks old way but I don't need your influence right now.

You are aware of the issue - your post shows that. That's half the battle won.

Cheepcheepcheep · 01/10/2025 13:30

This probably isn't great advice but (as someone who is in exactly the same boat - grew up in a shouty household, trying to avoid repeating that with my own kids), I read one thing recently which stuck with me: parent like someone is watching you at all times.

I think it works because of course someone is watching you - your DC - but I've started to imagine that I'm on camera or my boss is watching me or we're in public, even when we're home alone. It's helping me to regulate my emotions I guess because it pushes me into being the parent I want to be.

Need2DoBetter · 01/10/2025 13:46

@Ciderapplevinegar thank you so much you’re very kind ❤️

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Need2DoBetter · 01/10/2025 13:48

@estrogone yes the breathing and calming myself down is something I really need to do! Once I get angry I find it so hard to calm down again. Thank you for this.

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Need2DoBetter · 01/10/2025 13:51

@Cheepcheepcheep no that’s actually really good advice, thank you.

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Prinysoup · 01/10/2025 13:55

You say you can’t manage your emotions, what emotions are you having? It might help to figure out what specifically is triggering you. Are you stressed and rushing, do you feel disrespected, do you just not have another parenting technique because this was all you were shown, think about what exactly you’re feeling in that moment and then you can work on that eg learning new techniques, trying to allow for more time etc

FlowerUser · 01/10/2025 13:56

Look to praise as much as possible. When she's being quiet, playing nicely, tell her.
Have quiet space. Sit and be quiet and wait and she will be quiet.

Hurumphh · 01/10/2025 13:59

when I’m actually in the moment, and she’s not listening to me, I find it so hard to manage my emotions.

I grew up in a shitty household too. This is the key bit where you need to pause. In those moments where she’s not listening to you, come back to yourself. Shouty households often don’t value the self either, or see it as ‘selfish’ to focus on yourself, but it really is key. Come back to yourself, notice how you feel in your body (the stressed feeling, racing heart, clenched fists, whatever it is), and remind yourself it’s okay to feel angry. This is what angry feels like. So soothe yourself in that way, and the more you do that, the more you’ll build some space between your feelings and your action. In that space is your response towards your own feelings (acceptance and compassion), then you’ll develop the emotional capacity to choose your response (usually a patient but firm reminder/reiteration to your child of what you want them to do, rather than shouting).

The pause you build between feeling / response / action will also help you see and respond to your child’s feelings more effectively. With my boy I started to realise that I hadn’t given him enough notice for when we were switching an activity or if given him too many instructions all at once, so he was getting overwhelmed or zoning out. So then I could adjust my style to what he needed.

Hope that helps. It’s hard, I had a lot of therapist support. Like a PP said, noticing all of this is half the battle.

Higgledypiggledy864 · 01/10/2025 14:22

Try therapy, can really help work through your triggers and give yourself perspective

GreenMeeple · 01/10/2025 14:45

OP I'm probably the opposite of you, I'm extremely patient and often get told I am. This is not a boast but just to give you some perspective from the other side.

I have a 3.5 year old and at time I just want to scream into a pillow. They do really test your patience at this age so it's not just you. I can imagine that if you have a bit of a short fuse it must be very hard.

Good things to remember is that there is nothing wrong with leaving the room for a minute (as long as they are in a safe environment ofcourse), take a few breaths and think of a new strategy.

Try to turn things into games. One that works for mine when getting dressed is me being a tickle monster. " Quick I'm a tickle monster and I'm going to tickle those legs if they have no trousers on!" And then be really disappointed when the trousers are on and I can't tickle them.

Some sort of routine helps. My DS knows he can watch two bluey episodes and then we leave for nursery.

Offer compromise when you can. No bath? Fine but we need to have a quick flannel wash/ bath in the morning. You have to stop playing because we have to go now but you can bring your toy if you want.

And some battles are not worth having. You want to wear two different shoes? Why not.

BertieBotts · 01/10/2025 15:10

You need other tools to use when or before you get to the point of shouting.

I like books, so some book recommendations:

My favourite is a series of books called How To Talk... the original one was "How To Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk". It's great from about age 4 although I did find it useful with DS1 from age 2 or 3. The original was written in 1979 and does feel a little bit dated though it is definitely a classic and I would still recommend it.

There is a more up to date one (written by the original author's daughter!) for "Little Kids" which is more focused on the ages 3-7 which a lot of people like as well. They overlap so much there's no point getting both. Someone said the original has a better sense of the deeper philosophy behind it. I had read it so many times by the time I read the newer one, I couldn't say. The newer one seems a quicker and possibly slightly more accessible read. (The "what not to do" in the 80s version is very... 80s!)

The books by Dan Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson are brilliant too - I've heard really good things about their recent one The Way of Play, but there is also No Drama Discipline which is more specifically about behaviour management.

There is also an amazing book called When Your Kids Push Your Buttons, which I always think is like therapy in a book. It's very cheap on kindle too!

If you're not keen on books hopefully others can recommend other resources. One thing you can quickly do if you have a spare 5-15 minutes which will probably help immediately:

  1. Write down your top 5 biggest or most frequent issues (e.g. here, you mentioned "not getting dressed in morning" "getting into bath" so those would be a good 2 to start you off).
  2. Turn it around to a positively-worded expectation - what do you WANT her to do (e.g. "get dressed on own within 5 min timescale")
  3. Take a second to look back on that and ponder if it's really a realistic expectation. Sometimes it is, which, great! Sometimes it's not and it's funny to recognise this. If it's not a realistic expectation, how can you adjust it? E.g. increase the time span, or acknowledge she is likely to need help with certain pieces of clothing.
  4. Is there anything you can do to increase her chance of success for this expectation in the future? For example, if you want her to get happily into the bath, consider getting a cheap set of bath toys or some magic flannels or coloured bath crystals or whatever and bring them out at bathtime to make it a positive experience. Or if she tends to get frustrated with her socks and give up, could you practice putting on socks with her - even make a game with it? To strengthen this skill and make it easier.

1-3 is honestly often enough. Because simply having looked at the expectation, adjusted it to reality, so e.g. you know to allow ~20 minutes for dressing rather than 5, and then put it into words is enough to shift your mindset in the moment from it being so frustrating that she is putting an obstacle in your way, to knowing what you're actually looking for, which means you're more likely to do something supportive towards it for her. If you usually get annoyed when she takes 6+ mins to get dressed but realise this is not enough time, allow 20 mins then you'll be pleased if she manages it within 15 mins.

It is also really hard to recognise in the moment when children are doing well. We tend to automatically react when they are being annoying or obstructive, and when they are just quietly getting on with something and not causing a problem, we are so busy with every other thought and thing we have to do that we often miss this, which means they get much more attention for unwanted behaviour than they do for behaviour you want to encourage. Highlighting it as an exercise means that you know what you're looking for and can actually go looking for it. So rather than be relieved she has got her trousers on without a fight, you are more likely to notice - hey!! She got her trousers on all by herself - and then because you're looking for this you can praise and recognise the behaviour immediately, which is much more likely to make her want to do it again. Most children want to please adults. (Some don't! But it makes sense to start with what works for the majority).

Need2DoBetter · 01/10/2025 15:44

@Prinysoup it’s definitely the feeling of disrespect for me.

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Need2DoBetter · 01/10/2025 15:47

@Hurumphh thank you so much for your reply. I have also thought a lot about maybe seeing a therapist but the thought of it makes me nervous.

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Need2DoBetter · 01/10/2025 15:53

@GreenMeeple I do often walk away from her but she follows me! Definitely need to work on managing expectations. I know this is silly but when she’s not listening, I feel like I’m a bad mum. But the irony is it’s my reaction to her not listening that actually makes me a bad mum.

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Need2DoBetter · 01/10/2025 15:53

@Higgledypiggledy864❤️

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Need2DoBetter · 01/10/2025 15:56

@BertieBotts thank you so much for the reply, I appreciate it! I’m big on parenting books so I’ll definitely get those. I read calm parents, happy kids which was really good. I went through and highlighted all the bits that hit me. I need to make an effort to read over them more often so it’s fresh in the mind because it did really help me.

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Higgledypiggledy864 · 01/10/2025 15:56

Therapy is wonderful, it's like taking out the rubbish! Not very pleasant to do, but wonderful after when your slightly smelly bin isn't in your kitchen any more!

Need2DoBetter · 01/10/2025 15:58

@Higgledypiggledy864 it’s something I’ve always known I should/ need to do but it does scare me lol.

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Higgledypiggledy864 · 01/10/2025 16:02

Very rational! I'm building up for round two but need the headspace and energy to do it - it makes you a better parent though!

ghostyslovesheets · 01/10/2025 16:06

Recognising I WAS repeating the pattern and wanting not to was key - you’ve done that.

just a few things that worked for me:

reminding myself the behaviour was not personal

remembering behaviour is caused by something - tiredness, frustration, etc and it’s not due to being a shit parent

I am an adult - if I want good emotional regulation I have to model it

is this a hill I want to die on ? ( letting a 3 year old wear a tutu and wellies), does it matter

they need you love the most when they deserve it the least

this too will pass

wine!

single parent to 3 - all with various issues - now adults and we survived!

ghostyslovesheets · 01/10/2025 16:08

Oh and don’t try and discuss anything in the heat of the moment - wait till it’s calm