Anyone else get irrationally angry at their kids over nothing?

Dec 19·1 min read

My 4yo spilled juice on the couch yesterday and I completely lost it. Not like a normal "ugh that's annoying" reaction—I'm talking raised voice, told him he was being careless, the whole thing. He looked terrified. Later I felt like absolute garbage because he was just being a kid. I know I'm stressed about work stuff but that's not his fault. Does this happen to anyone else or am I just losing it? How do you guys reset when you feel it building?

5 comments194 views

Comments(5)

DDanny G.RegularDec 20

been there. what helped for me was noticing the pattern—I was doing it more when I was hungry, tired, or hadn't had a break. Once I started guarding those things it stopped happening as much

RRick H.RegularDec 20

Hopefully you apologized to him? Not in a "let me explain why I was mad" way but actual "that wasn't okay, I'm sorry." Kids remember that stuff and it matters

TTony F.RegularDec 20

This happens when you're at your limit and didn't realize it. You probably hadn't slept well or were already stressed about something. Kid spills juice and suddenly it's THAT juice. What was actually going on that morning?

KKurt D.RegularDec 21

The "he looked scared" detail is what gets me every time I read about this stuff. He didn't MEAN to spill juice. You snapped at a 4yo for an accident. That's worth examining what's actually going on underneath

SSteve L.RegularDec 21

The fact that you're recognizing it was irrational is actually important. Most of us have been there with a 4yo spilling something. But yeah the raised voice over juice is usually more about YOUR stuff than their mistake