Meltdowns....It Might Be Preventable Sometimes

I think everyone gets a little frustrated and frazzled sometimes.  We all have those days where we are just DONE.  The kids are being nuts or work was a hellfire.  Maybe it was just one thing after another.  Maybe it has been building for hours or days or weeks.  Regardless, we are just DONE with the day.

Now think about your kids.....

Ever see your kids completely lose it?  Most of us are appalled by really nasty behavior or ugliness from our kids but sometimes you have to look at the big picture.  Sometimes there are things that you are doing, without even realizing it, to make your kids melt down.  Here are 5 famous ones (and this is just a small list) that you can try to avoid.

1.  They're tired.  This is probably the #1 cause of bad behavior.  The amount of sleep that kids actually need is rarely what they get.  Whether it's a case of the sniffles in a toddler or an all-night study session for a high schooler, they often aren't getting the sleep that they need.  I love when people say, "Well my kid's old enough to make that choice of when to go to sleep on a school night" and then have kids that act up or don't perform well in school.  Guess what? They're tired.  Their brains can't function the full-scale results of staying up that late.  That's why they're kids.  Be an adult.  Set a limit (I'm not suggesting a 7:30 bedtime).  Lack of sleep can make anyone lash out.

2.  They're overstimulated.  When you run, run run your kids all of the time, they are likely to get overstimulated and melt down.  Seriously, let them be kids for a little while and you'll likely have fewer tantrums.

3.  They feel out of control.  This sounds weird but it's true.  If you're forcing your tentative three year old to hug a bunch of people at a reunion, they are going to feel like one of the few things they CAN control is gone.  They'll lash out...and leave you wondering what the heck just happened.

4.  They don't feel good.  In babies and toddlers, the most nefarious cause is teeth.  Molars can be stubborn and take months of discomfort to come through.  In older kids, they might have a cold or allergies.  They might just not feel great due to hormones.  Could be anything.

5.  They're stressed.  Yup, it happens to kids too.  In fact, they see what you're stressing over and take it on themselves sometimes.  Kids get stressed too.  Keep an open relationship where they feel comfortable talking and make sure they have other trusted adults to confide in, as well.

Kids are people too and life is crazy sometimes.  Be patient when things are going on.