Step 1: Realize that you’re actually about to lose it.
Step 2: Provide children with food. Full hands and full mouths will improve the situation.
Step 3: Walk away. Don’t worry, they’ll follow you. They always do. But remember, their hands and mouths are busy.
Step 4: Retreat into your own head, just for a few minutes. The pressure is building up and it needs to diminish before it explodes out of you.
Step 5: Do anything even the most slightly considered to be self care. Even if that’s just remembering to breathe.
Step 6: Forgive yourself. You didn’t do anything wrong, but you feel badly for feeling this bad.
Step 7: More deep breaths. More compassion for yourself. You’re under a lot of pressure right now and it feels like the weight of the world is on your shoulders. No wonder your chest feels crushed.
Step 8: Be gentle with yourself. Be gentle with your kids. They don’t know your struggling, and they don’t need to.
Step 9: Accept the love that they’re giving you. Melt into the hugs.
Step 10: Plan something special for after their bedtime. Give yourself something to look forward to. Even if it’s small. A hot meal, anything to lol forward to.
Step 11: Write this How To guide.
Step 12: Repeat as necessary.
Congrats. You successfully did not lose your shit or break down this morning. Only 9 more hours to go.
Melt into the hugs sounds like the best part.
It’s definitely my favorite.