“The real menace in dealing with a five-year-old is that in no time at all
you begin to sound like a five-year-old.”
(Joan Kerr)

Yesterday, I talked about how I sometimes struggle to act my age. There seems to be this natural phenomenon in families where, in an effort to get our children to act more mature, we end up being just as immature as they are. Maybe instead of mirroring their maturity level back to them, we should model a better way to handle things.

When you get frustrated in the midst of an exchange with your child, ask yourself how old you are at that moment. If the answer is closer to your child’s age than your own, smile and know that you aren’t the first parent to lose your adulthood in the heat of the moment.

Then, gather yourself and show your child what a grownup looks like—someone who remains calm, cool, and connected no matter what.

Peace begins with pause,