Have you ever noticed your kids reacting to stress in ways similar to yours? Have you taught them how to reduce stress?
For many of us, we resort to acting out our own unique version of the ‘fight or flight’ stress response. We might internally ‘argue’ with what is happening. Or we might shut down and resist dealing with it altogether.
For me, my subconscious response is to force my will upon the situation — not the best way to respond when you are trying to be a positive parent.
My 4-year-old son, who has a flair for delay, one day decided he simply must find his ‘very-special-one-of-a-kind’ blue button. I was trying not to be late to teach yoga class and with everything else that had been going on in my life at that time, I was in no mood to search the house to find a button. So, I put my foot down.
“No, we don’t have time to look for it now. We’ll find it when we get back.” I said.
“But, mommy, I need it!” He said in truth.
“It’s not that important. Come here please.”
“NO!” he yelled and stormed away in a desperate search.
“Get over here right now! I’m going to count! 1….2….”
You can see where this is going. A perfect storm of circumstances culminating in a power struggle of epic proportions. Never underestimate the will of a 4-year-old.
Stress is without a doubt one of the biggest banes of modern life. It lurks silently below the surface and sabotages the best of our intentions when we least expect it.
Luckily, there’s hope for all of us.