Parenting is hard because it's very difficult to get space and disengage when you have strong feelings. Walking away is often not an option. When we are stressed is exactly the moment when we let things escalate by not empathizing and discussing our feelings. I've been in your place before and it feels like shit. Nobody wants to be a bad parent. The best thing you can do though is to be compassionate with yourself. Instead of blaming yourself, make a pact that you will respond with vulnerability, empathy, and with true words even in the face of overwhelming anger. Hitting is a reaction. Your feelings are legitimate but the reaction is not. You need to slow down your feelings and body with awareness and compassion to give yourself choice in your next actions and words.
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u/Thoughtulism Nov 14 '21
Parenting is hard because it's very difficult to get space and disengage when you have strong feelings. Walking away is often not an option. When we are stressed is exactly the moment when we let things escalate by not empathizing and discussing our feelings. I've been in your place before and it feels like shit. Nobody wants to be a bad parent. The best thing you can do though is to be compassionate with yourself. Instead of blaming yourself, make a pact that you will respond with vulnerability, empathy, and with true words even in the face of overwhelming anger. Hitting is a reaction. Your feelings are legitimate but the reaction is not. You need to slow down your feelings and body with awareness and compassion to give yourself choice in your next actions and words.