How do I explain why I lost my temper with my son today?

MarkRegular

3w ago·1 min read

Man I feel awful. My 8 year old spilled juice all over the kitchen and I just went off on him. Started yelling about how careless he is and how he never listens. Wife just looked at me and didn't say anything but I could see the disappointment. He went to his room crying. I'm supposed to be teaching him Christ's patience and love and here I am showing him the complete opposite. How do other dads handle this? I want to be the example he needs to follow but I keep failing at it.

4 comments238 views

Comments(4)

MMiguelRegular2w ago

Hey, the fact that you feel awful about it means you care. Eight year olds spill stuff, it's basically their job. The important part is what you do next - talk to him, explain that you were frustrated with yourself not with him. Kids bounce back faster than we think.

AAlexRegular3w ago

We've all been there man. I lost it over spilled milk once and my 7 year old looked at me like I'd lost my mind. What helped me was taking a timeout myself, then sitting down with him and being honest that sometimes dads mess up too. He actually seemed relieved that I was human.

DDerekRegular3w ago

Don't beat yourself up too much. One outburst doesn't define you as a parent. What matters is that you recognize it and adjust next time. Spilled juice is annoying but it's fixable. Your relationship with your son is what really matters.

PPedroRegular3w ago

The hardest part of being a dad is managing our own emotions so we don't dump them on the kids. You already know you messed up which is the biggest step. Apologize to him, explain why you reacted that way (stress, fatigue, whatever it was), and move forward. Kids are resilient.