Anger management check-in: Progress report

Dec 30·1 min read

UPDATE: A few months ago I posted about struggling with anger around bedtime routines with my 5yo. Started doing breathing exercises and honestly? Game changer. I'm not perfect but I've maybe had 2 real blow-ups instead of like 10. My kid even asked me yesterday why I was being "so nice" which gutted me a little but also felt good. If anyone's in that same boat, the box breathing thing (4-4-4-4) actually works. Doesn't fix the underlying exhaustion but buys me space to not be a jerk.

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Comments(5)

FFred J.RegularDec 31

My therapist said something about how 5yos specifically are designed to trigger adults and it kind of changed how I think about the whole thing. Is that landing for you too?

WWyatt C.RegularDec 31

This is huge. Bedtime with a 5yo is actually the hardest thing in parenting and nobody talks about it. What did you end up doing differently?

PPete A.RegularDec 31

Was it therapy, the breathing thing, or just time and practice? Because I'm kind of where you were a few months ago.

MManuelRegularJan 1

The fact that you can recognize this and report back gives me actual hope for my own situation. Thanks for the update dude.

CClint R.RegularJan 1

Glad you're doing better with this. The bedtime anger spiral is so real. You lose it once and then you're spiraling about losing it. Vicious cycle.