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The Mommy Meltdown. That’s what I’m going to call it. You know what I’m talking about, don’t you? It’s that moment where you just … can’t … take it anymore. Your kids woke you up before your alarm went off and they were loud about it. They wanted milk. So, you opened the refrigerator and found an empty milk carton. When it’s time to take the tykes to school, your daughter can’t find her favorite shoes and refuses to wear a different pair. Did I mention that you didn’t get to sleep until after midnight because you desperately wanted to spend some time with your husband? So, here it is, less than eight hours since you fell asleep and you already want to crawl back under the covers. You don’t know who to blame: yourself for not going to bed earlier, your son for trying to flush his Matchbox cars down the toilet, your husband for drinking the last of the milk, or the shoe fairy. You try to shake it off and make the most of the day, but nothing seems to be in your favor. Sometime later that day, you end up in the line at the grocery store where you burst into tears telling the cashier that you forgot your wallet out in the car. You know it’s coming and that just makes it worse when it does. So, when you get to that point of no return, what do you do? How do you cope? How do you get past the moment and get on with your day? Well, I started by paying for my groceries, apologizing to the cashier, and remembering to breathe.

When you find yourself losing your cool, whatever the reason, don’t forget to breathe. If possible, find help. Whether you need someone to watch the kids or just move the clothes from the washer to the dryer, ask for help if it’s available. The kids can’t wait, but the wet clothes can. If you are worried about your children seeing you cry, stop worrying. It’s okay to cry. Kids will understand that you aren’t always super-human. When they ask you what’s wrong, be honest, but avoid blame. “Mommy’s had a difficult day and needs to take a break. She’s doing too much.” You may be surprised when your kids offer to help. If you need to lie down for a bit, see if the kids want to join you for a quiet movie. If your stress has given you a headache, maybe the kids could help hold a cool washcloth against your forehead. You may think that you are angry with the kids and don’t want to spend time with them, but you might find it easier to relax when you know exactly what they are doing. Of course, if they start jumping on the bed, you’ll need to try a different location. If you can lie down or at least sit and relax in your child’s room while he plays nearby, you might be able to get the timeout you need that way.

Another thing your children can do to help you is share their bubbles. If you heard my previous episode about taming temper tantrums, then you know what I’m talking about. Blowing bubbles helps us to breathe deeply and they are fun. Taking a bubble-blowing break may not solve all of your problems, but it could lower your rising blood pressure during a meltdown. If you are dealing with a baby whose fussiness is part of your stress, put on some soft music and try rocking both of you into a relaxed state. Remember, your goal is to relax so that you can move on. If you are continually worried about the amount of time you feel like you are wasting, stop and remember that your health, both physical and mental, is more important than whatever task is on your “to-do” list right now. If you are in a time crunch that absolutely can’t wait, such as the need to pick your child up from school on time, then figure out which task CAN wait. There is always something that can wait.

Here is the part of the show where I admit to having a great vice. I am horribly addicted to caffeine. I drink it all day long in coffee, soda, and iced tea. The more stressed I get or the more tasks I assign myself, the more caffeine I apparently need to keep going. I’m aware of this bad habit and correcting it is on my “to-do” list, but for now I’m going to tell you that I know caffeine isn’t the answer. Actually, it will only make things worse as far as I can tell. When I’m stressed or tired, I use caffeine to perk myself up and to my own detriment, I wind up completely jittery and uncomfortable. This does not help me relax in the least. I realize now that it can actually perpetuate my anxiety. So, if you find yourself reaching for that cup of coffee to help energize you, I recommend having a nice crunchy apple instead. An apple will give you a natural energy boost, will last longer than a caffeine-high, won’t give you the jitters, and it’s even good for you!

Finally, remember that your children are your allies. They aren’t trying to make your life miserable on purpose. Well, I can’t speak for your teenagers, but I’m sure the little ones that still love to hear bedtime stories are on your side most of the time. Even if you are at the end of your rope, angry, crying, and just can’t wait for that hot bath you’ll be able to take when Daddy gets home, be sure to hug your kids. If they are currently being punished for some of their actions that contributed to your current meltdown, that’s fine. The punishment will still be there even if you do give them a hug. It’s probably better to talk to your kids about their indiscretions later, when you can communicate more coherently. If you are anything like me, and I hope that at least some of you are, the hug that you receive back will be more healing for you than anything else I’ve previously mentioned in this episode.

Before I go, I’d like to remind you that this podcast has been brought to you by AudibleKids.com. AudibleKids.com makes books fun for kids of all ages with more than 3,500 titles from over 75 publishers, including more than 500 titles never available in digital before. Research and studies conducted by leading nationally recognized educators and foundations have shown time and again that audio books help kids maximize their potential and improve reading skills. So be sure to visit AudibleKids.com/MightyMommy to sign up for your free audiobook today. That’s AudibleKids.com/MightyMommy M-I-G-H-T-Y-M-O-M-M-Y.

That’s it for now. I hope you’ve enjoyed the show. Thank you for listening.

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This is your friend the Mighty Mommy wishing you happy and fun parenting!