The place was supposed to be open, but you drove all the way across town and discovered it was closed. The package was supposed to be delivered and it didn’t show up. Someone told you something that turned out to be a lie. The food isn’t to your liking. The game ended on a bogus call against your team. That appointment or team meeting you organized your whole day around was canceled and no one told you.
So yeah, you’re frustrated. Yeah, you don’t have much patience. Maybe you even yelled. Maybe you got an attitude. Maybe you didn’t let it go. Maybe you asked “Why?” or even “What the hell?” more than a few times.
In other words…you did exactly what you say is unacceptable behavior from your children. You threw a tantrum! Your expectations weren’t met. You felt wronged. You were overwhelmed by your emotions. It happens.
Which is the point. If it can happen to you, an adult, isn’t it fair to expect it to happen to a 6 year-old? Or a 16 year-old? Could you maybe try to be a bit more empathetic? Certainly our own adult emotions are rarely calmed by someone getting upset at us for having them. As we’ve said here before, the most important thing we can teach our kids in life is how to deal with frustration. Our lives would be better if someone had taught us better, that’s for sure.
So try to be kind. Try to be tolerant. You make excuses for yourself…you can’t extend that courtesy and understanding to your kids? They’re tired. Things didn’t go the way they hoped. They are hurt. They are hungry. They’re doing their version of what you yourself have done countless times.
Help them out.
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