How do you salvage a bad day?

[Arcadia]

I've had a shocker today. Totally not the type of parent I want to be. I've yelled, threatened, dominated and ignored dd at various times. Urgh yuck!

I really struggle sometimes to just let go and turn the day around though. I'm good at doing it when there a full on fight with someone (adult) but with kids it's hard to not let crap things accumulate.

So...how do you salvage a bad day?

Ps tomorrow we're going to make anger jars to shake when we feel cross, and maybe look at meditation!

[Beach Mama]

I simply let it go. I promise myself I will try harder, I come up with alternatives for yelling (counting under my breath, whispering etc) instead and I pour on the love and attention. Kids are wonderful forgivers. They don't hold a grudge and just love being loved! Good luck hun we have all been there, and all we can do is try to come up with better ways to cope knowing that some days we just don't!

[Calluna]

For me it's usually a moment that something clicks in my head and I decide we aren't going to do it anymore. I find a distraction and consciously change my mood. We do something that ds find lots of fun (tickles work well) until we end up laughing so much we feel better.

tomorrow is a brand new day.

[fionas]

I apologise when I'm putting DD1 to bed, tell her why I've had a short fuse, reassure her that I love her very much and tell her that tomorrow will be a better day.

When she was smaller, I used to find that sharing a bath with her was a great way to turn around a yeuky day. Don't know why it worked but it did every time.

[Liviam]

I too am know for having bad days and feeling like the crappiest mother. I have a short fuse at the moment and feel so guilty about it. I know it doesn't help you me telling you that I'm crappy but I just wanted to let you know you're not alone.

I salvage by apologising to the kids, kissing them goodnight and telling them tomorrow mummy will try much harder to be a better mum and not yell. I will then let them pick something fun to do the next day as a special treat.

For me I always go in and sit in their room and watch them sleep and remind myself how incredibly lucky I am to have my amazing kids, that they are only kids and I will try better tomorrow. I do not want to be the screaming mum. My mum was and it was horrible and I DO NOT want to be like that.

Good luck and always remember your kids love you and tomorrow is another day to start afresh

[onthefly]

You've already done it - looking ahead to doing better tomorrow

[Arcadia]

Thanks everyone. The hugs are so appreciated!

I've had a thrush flare up (breast and nipple) and it leaves me so stressed because its not going away! Then I get snappy at anything and generally hate myself.

Thanks so much for the advice. I did have a bath, and apologize to the kids and had a good whine to my mum.

Tomorrow is a new shiny day!