Be A STAR!
This is the age of the new SELF care for moms. You can do this no matter how busy you are!
I'm talking about caring for your SELF and doing it one small step at a time.
Today you'll learn a skill that you can use to improve your SELF care and the way you care for your children. If you're thinking this is too good too be true, it's probably why I call it an amazing secret.
This secret is derived from the wonderful work of Dr. Becky Bailey and her method of Conscious Discipline (or loving guidance). I've used this with many children and groups of children and haven't had a fail yet.
When things like arguments, activity level indoors, noise level and tattling are getting out of hand, try this. Be a STAR. First, you've got to get them to look at you.
insider tip: in order to get the attention of a group of excited young children say one of these phases and point to yourself....
"Look at my eyes."
"Look at my nose"
or
"Look at this wart on the end of my nose!"
As soon as you get their attention, say and do this slowly and with intention....wait until they smile to move on to the next steps.
S mile
T ake a Breath
A nd
R elax
If things are really getting tense, you may need to repeat this several times (especially the smile part) but I guarantee, when you do really do it, you feel an instant sense of calm and so do your children. I know it's hard to smile when you're not feeling it but force yourself anyway because it really, really helps.
Now my own idea about this is that moms have the inalienable right to take this up one notch for their own relaxation quota like this.....
Stop
Take a break (5 min-2 hours) here's where you have to get real creative
And
Relax
Nanci J. Bradley is a child and family educator, author, energy facilitator, family aerobics instructor and all-around fun-loving person. She believes in the power of sleep, lifelong learning, healthy eating, fun, and more than anything else, PLAY! She studied early childhood education at Triton College and received her BA in education from Northern Illinois University in 1986. She received her MA in human development from Pacific Oaks College in 2011. She lives and teaches in Madison, WI.