Parenting… one of the toughest jobs in the world, but the most rewarding as well. At times, it may be difficult to keep your cool and stay calm. You may want to cry, yell, or just walk away. The number one thing to remember is this: You Got This! If you can take these tips to remain calm in parenting, you can turn yourself into that serene parent who takes charge, yet who is still fun as well. If that’s the parent you want to be, start practicing these tips today.

1. Give Yourself a Break

While you may have regular time-outs when your children are misbehaving or not following the rules, what about giving yourself regular time-out? Sometimes parenting becomes overwhelming and it can be tough to keep your cool. However, if you give yourself regular breaks, you can teach your children and take care of them, while staying level-headed. You should try to get out of the house at least for one full day every month. Have a spouse, neighbor, family member, daycare or friend take care of the kids while you take a personal day.

2. Know What Your Children Are Up To

Another excellent tip for remaining calm in parenting is to know what your children are up to. Yes, some children may think or even say you are invading their space. However, that is part of parenting. If they want your trust, they need to tell you what they are doing and where they are going. Unfortunately, some children get into drugs or alcohol. The sooner you know what your children are doing, the sooner you can help and guide them. Trying to find out what your children are up to doesn’t have to be a tough conversation. Speak with them during dinner or while watching a movie with them. They might be more willing to open up during these times.

3. Practice Regular Breathing Techniques

As a parent, some days may be harder than others. You may have your children challenging you at every turn. They may argue or talk back and it may be tough to stay calm. However, there are many breathing techniques you can use to help you to relax and calmly get through the day. These and other holistic ways to reduce stress and remain calm are often taught at a non-12 step rehab to help people learn how to remain calm without drugs and alcohol. 4-7-8 breathing is one of the most effective and easiest breathing techniques. You breathe in for 4 seconds, hold for 7 seconds and breathe out for 8 seconds. This technique should be tried a least 3 times in a session. If you can do it, 5 times a day for the first week. Regular breathing exercises can help you to clear your mind, stay calm and have a more positive perspective on everything that may be going on.

Parenting is a journey and all children are different from one another. You may have 1 child or 7 children and each one will differ from every other child. There are some things that work for a child which won’t work for the next. Remaining calm during the good and tough times of parenting is one of the best things you can do for yourself and for your children. If you are still having trouble keeping your cool, there are a couple of things which might help. You can join parent groups or even go to individual or family therapy if needed as well. Every parent has their own perspective on parenting. If you find these tips to be helpful, feel free to use share them. you can also find they help to improve your child’s behaviors as well.