Turn Down the Emotional Volume

Do you have one of those kids who reacts to stress like a tuning fork? Yelling and stomping from Mom and Dad, meant to show our forcefulness and determination in getting disrespect or dishonesty or aggressive behavior to cease, only serves to set that kid vibrating.

When my son loses his grip, it's terribly hard not to lose mine, too, because he needs to STOP and I need to stop him. But any emotional outburst on my part and, oh boy, the roller coaster picks up a whole new burst of speed. Even if he starts out on the level, seeing me upset or angry spins him into emotional distress. If he's already loopy, we're looping-the-loop.

If you also have a child who can't handle strong emotions, you may find that toning down your delivery and displaying monumental calm is a more effective method of handling misbehavior than screaming and crying (even though, inside, you may be screaming to scream and cry). Read more about how to turning down the emotional volume and try this breathing technique afterward to quiet your own stress-related vibrations.