My temper! Oh no!

[AntoninBeGonin]

Well this is mainly just for me to get some out of my head. 2 days ago (Dec. 27th) was NOT a good day. Ds (16 months) cried, whined, and clung all day. This is completely unlike him. I tried so hard to be patient with him but by the end of the day I was so frazzled and frustrated.

Like many of you I didn't have the most GD childhood growing up. My parents rarely spanked (and not hard), but I would have considered my mom border-line emotionally abusive. She was the type to use mean, sarcastic, cold-as-ice comments that hurt so much I still obsess over them today, years later. I never learned how to control and release anger like an adult should. So finally, I just snapped. The only thing I am proud of is that I never once raised my voice or (god forbid) hit my son. Instead I picked him up and held him in my left arm as I vented some very physical anger. Ended up punching the wall (that hurt!), knocking over some junk, and kicking the crap out of a Rubbermaid laundry basket. My son thought it was funny. I realized how childish it was but felt like I just needed to be angry.

Anyhow, I talked with Dh and told him I need some activities to help relieve stress. Like painting or something. I know I'm a physical person so we talked about getting an exercise bike and a speed bag. I'm open to any suggestions you mamas (and daddies) have about ways to keep calm.

Many thanks... and yeah, parenting really is a journey, isn't it?
~Nay, always trying to better myself

[muse]

oh your description of knocking stuff over sounds like me many days. unfortunately though i think even though i'm not yelling or hurting the kids it really scares them, and my ds (4 yrs) has been known to mimic me hours later. of course we tell him, "no throwing stuff in the house", then i go and do it...kind of hard to explain that one to him...

i also need a physical outlet and i find yoga and walking to be essential to me. if i feel my tension rising i try my best to get dd in the backpack and get out of the house. its amazing how emotions dissolve with fresh air and exercise.
but mostly i try to work with my anger through meditation. that helps me accept the strong emotions that arise without acting them out.
it's an ongoing practice and an ongoing journey alright.

[j924]

I think there was something up on the 27th. My older dds started referring to me as evil Santa and ran up and down the stairs singing "It's a Hard Knock Life". All I wanted was some walking room in the living area. I think the post holiday let down can be huge. I have been trying to get outside everyday if only for ten minutes on the porch. We run around like crazy for as long as we can stand it and then everyone is a little happier. We didn't get out today(cold rain : ) and I can see a huge difference. Hagn in there mama.

[Fuamami]

A speed bag sounds like a great idea. My dad was a boxer, and he had a big bag and a speed bag hung in the barn when I was in high school. I loved them! They were great for venting and they wear you out like nothing else.

Another good way to vent, IMO, is to laugh a whole, whole lot. I have a Mitch Hedberg HBO special, Eddie Izzard, and Chris Rock CDs that really help release tension.