what are your calming down techniques?

[ilovespinach]

Ok....I was just wondering what everyone else does ensure they keep calm when their dc's are starting to push them over the edge....Do you just eg when your dc won't go to bed and is kicking and screaming, do you count to 10, walk out of the room....?

I don't want to be a shouty cross mom and I don't want my ds to look back and think of me negatively.....Sometimes I find it hard to cope though and I feel under pressure....

deep breaths, whispering. And pretend you are looking after someone else's children It is amazing how much patience I have with other people's children...

How old are yours? Sometimes just telling them that they are pushing you to the limits and you don't want to shout so can they please just help you out can work wonders.

2.6 and 9 months.....I struggle with the older dc at times....

I did keep saying ''calm down'' to him when he was screaming the other day and it also seemed to keep me calm as well.....

I know it sounds bonkers, but you could pretend you are being filmed for a Parenting documentary...imagine a world of MNetters are watching you lose it big time on National TV...that's ought to do it.

My toddler had a very short fuse and I used to say calmly. ''I can see you are cross/upset. I cannot help you when you are like this. Come and find me when you are feeling better and we will have a hug and see what is wrong''

gin. for me

southern comfort for me and imaging the neighbours gossiping about how i lost it and they could hear me helps.....

of course, my children are so old now, all this is a wine sodden blur to me. This coupled with my old-aged selective memory, means I am Calmness and Serenity as a parent embodied....

thanks a lot...some good tips and if all else fails, I will turn to wine and choc ...