I love my child. She brings me joy, makes me laugh, showers me with affection, and does something amazing every day. She is smart, creative, eats her vegetables, and loves to run. She is also one of the happiest kids I have ever seen... most of the time.
There are also times when she is what I call "Jekyll and Hyde baby". I can deal calmly with stressors at work, with family, time, and even money. I am most likely to lose my cool when my child acts like she belongs on an episode of "Super Nanny". The difference is that Super Nanny is not going to show up on my door step and when my adrenaline is flowing from the anxiety and stress of any whining, crying, screaming, or just a flat out refusal to listen, all child rearing logic goes straight out the window. Fortunately, she is generally even tempered and her outbursts are predictably when she is exhausted or hungry. Add the exhaustion that accompanies early morning wake up calls, a full time job, and expectations of being a wife and mother - there comes a tipping point where my patience wears very thin. Sometimes this mommy needs a time out.
I have a fierce Italian temper and when I feel the tension bubbling to the surface I need to manage the stress. In a perfect world, I'd go for a run to release the tension but I can't leave a 3 year old alone in the house. Instead, I have to step away and focus on breathing and calming myself. On days where I'm rested and prepared to handle the "Jekyll and Hyde", I can calmly speak to her or put her in time out. On days when I'm exhausted explosive mom, I have to really focus on patience. I feel terrible when I yell - and I do apologize because even a 3 year old deserves respect. In a perfect world I'd always respond like the Super Nanny but I'm not perfect. Instead I try to understand my tipping point and hers. Sometimes she's stressed and just needs a cuddle. Believe it or not, that usually calms me down too.
According to HelpGuide.Org
About Stress:
Stress is a normal physical response to events that make you feel threatened or upset your balance in some way. When you sense danger – whether it’s real or imagined – the body's defenses kick into high gear in a rapid, automatic process known as the “fight-or-flight” reaction, or the stress response.
Physical Reaction to Stress:
When you perceive a threat, your nervous system responds by releasing a flood of stress hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones rouse the body for emergency action.
Your heart pounds faster, muscles tighten, blood pressure rises, breath quickens, and your senses become sharper. These physical changes increase your strength and stamina, speed your reaction time, and enhance your focus – preparing you to either fight or flee from the danger at hand.
The JFA Worksite Wellness Team shares stories, tips and information about living well, or doing the best they can, while balancing life and working as worksite wellness professionals.
