Who Needs A Time-Out? You Or Your Child?

Time Out - Parenting

Is there distress in your household lately? We think someone might be needing a break! But who is that someone? We’re about to find out!

Parenthood is no less than a job where ‘slightly
more of your emotions are involved’. It seems like a full-time job but that can
be too taxing and overburdening at times. But it is difficult to understand who
needs a time out from whom? Are you too overwhelmed with your surroundings as
well as kids that you need a pause of parenting? Or is it the kid who is giving
you a hard time (quite literally) and needs to be put into line? Both of these
can be handled well within the spectrum of positive parenting and that too
without either of you yelling and crying! These are the times you need a
time-out!

1. If the to-do list doesn’t seem to end

If you are too occupied in your work and
housework that no amount of efficiency at either place is giving you solace. So
what if the to-do list isn’t over, not the end of the world.

2. OCD Alert

Your quest to have a perfect home which is spotless and serene is an
unachievable task. The kids and they are not as organized as we want them to be
and that is okay. Your constant desire for keeping everything in order might
backfire. Take a breather each time you catch yourself being obsessive about
making sure things are perfect. PERFECT DOES NOT EXIST.

3. Missing the point!

Well, what is more important? Dishes or Kids?
Many times without any reason you choose work over sitting down with your kids
for a quality time. Your drive to just being indulged in work is a huge problem
and a major roadblock. Gift yourself a time-out when you find yourself stressed
with tasks which are not even that important at the moment.

4. Default in snooze button

Planning on to breathe? At least sleep for 8
hours max! Such depravity of sleep will only cause more stress, unhappiness and
unproductivity, no chance that you will be able to tame those tides with this
half on energy head. Snoozing to catch up on rest is the perfect time-out you
have earned after every exhausting day.

If you are experiencing all the above, it is time
to zone out and fix things. Take some time off to relax and just be with
yourself. If you are not in the mood, then just some scented candles and good
home-cooked comfort food will work along with some tea, coffee or wine,
whichever you prefer! The point is to hit pause and reset, your brain, body and
soul. An exhausted and sleep deprived mom will only be cranky and no parenting
mantra will be positive enough. You need a sane mind and a fresh body to
process all of this. Be mindful of these points and if you see any signs, don’t
forget it is time to hit pause!

WHEN DOES YOUR CHILD NEED A TIME-OUT?

Here we are not expecting the child to be
overwhelmed by work but definitely a new world they are in which they are
surely trying to understand and move through.

1. Constantly talking back at you
2. Arguing with you when you say don’t give them what they want
3. Too aloof or detached

A child can be facing their own share of
problems, it can be kids messing with them at school, or wrong group of
friends, anxious, maybe they are bullied (link bullying article here)  or may be scared of somebody, 
in or outside the boundaries of the home (link stranger danger article
here). But biggest of all, they might not be spending enough quality time with you (linking the
article about spending time with kids here) where they can feel at ease
around you, not on guard and sharing their feelings.

Take them, start talking to them rather than yelling. They might be in need of your love and
care and you are misreading the signs of disrespect. Be confident about your
upbringing and confront them upfront on any issue. Your relationship requires
transparency, because that's the answer to almost all your problems.

These signs might show which one needs a time out
and what has to be done in order to restore peace in your home. Do you often
see these signs in you and your child? You can reach out to us for more
information on how to tackle this situation through the measures of positive
parenting.