3 Effective Ways To Be More Patient With Your Kids

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What if you could end today with no regrets about how you had treated your children throughout the day?

Are you giving your kids your best?

You know that God designed you to take joy in your children.

But if you regularly let your stress level dictate how you interact with your children, you probably end many days feeling regret.

The good news is that you can become a mama who speaks kindly, hugs warmly and responds lovingly, no matter what the day brings.

Here are the three steps that completely changed how I interact with my children every day.

1.  Eliminate digital distractions.

Focus on your homemaking and parenting during the day.

Put away whatever you use to access the internet. 

I recommend keeping the television shut off during the day as well. 

It is too easy to turn a 3 minute email check into an hour long social media binge, or to get sucked into the 24 hour news cycle.

This will help make sure that you don’t feel “interrupted” by your children when they ask for a snack or a snuggle while you are checking out the Facebook photos of your girlfriend’s baby shower.

And then you will not be tempted to become annoyed by the interruption and say something unkind or unloving.

I also find that if I do not check any devices during the day, the kids actually play more independently. 

It’s as if they don’t see a need to try to get my attention as often because they don’t see me engaged with anything that is competing with them for it. 

And that gives me more time to get my chores done.

2.  Make time for self-care.

Yes, staying home with your children is an awesome blessing. 

But it is also an awesome responsibility and an awesome load of stress.

If you do not have any time for restorative activities, you will become resentful and struggle to find real joy in motherhood. 

Your need for self-care is so important that God even tells you to do it in His Word.

So start scheduling time for self-care throughout your day and your week. 

Whether it’s a glass of wine and a copy of Southern Living after the kids go to bed on Friday evening or a hot bubble bath every morning before they wake up. 

Plan it, schedule it, and make it happen.

3.  Know when to press the reset button.

You know the kind of day.

You wake up with the best of intentions, you pray for guidance in your parenting. 

Maybe you even have a fun activity planned for the kids as soon as the day starts. 

And then, somehow, before breakfast is even on the table, everything goes to… 

Well, you know where it goes.

If an interaction with your children begins to escalate into something that you know is not going to bring glory to God, just hold it right there.

You don’t have to win every time. 

Decide whether forcing your child to eat the bagel she asked for, as she chokes down tears insisting that it’s yucky, is worth the peace of your home for the day.

It isn’t about giving in.  It’s about being wise enough to know that sometimes everyone, your kids included, need grace.

So if a hug and an agreement to start the day over will help you be more patient with your kids, just go for it. 

Trash the bagel, grab a bowl of cereal, and snuggle over a storybook.

Small Changes Will Win You A Big Prize

You know that mom you admire?  The one who barely raises her voice an octave when her children destroy their bedroom? 

The one who hugs her disobedient child and listens to her side of the story before shouting out a consequence?

You can become more like her. 

And when you learn how to be more patient with your kids you will keep their respect. 

But you will also win their hearts.

Can you take the first step, and live today without distractions from your most important work? 

I know that the peace you will find in your home and in your heart will be worth it.