When Frustration Takes Over: A Parenting Moment I Regret
Parenting a toddler is a journey filled with love, joy, and yes—moments of frustration. Today, I want to share a personal experience, one that left me feeling guilty and questioning myself as a mom.
The Moment That Broke Me
My son, who is just 2 years and 3 months old, is at that stage where emotions run high, and he doesn’t always have the words to express them. The other day, in a fit of frustration, he grabbed a bowl and hit my mother with it—hard. It was an impulsive act, but one that caught me off guard. Without thinking, I reacted. I slapped him.
The moment my hand met his tiny arm, I regretted it. His little face, shocked and confused, made my heart sink.
Why Did I React That Way?
I was upset. Not just because he had hit my mother, but because I’ve been trying so hard to teach him kindness and respect. And yet, in my frustration, I did exactly what I don’t want him to do—I hit back. It wasn’t a hard slap, but it was enough to make me realize that I had just contradicted my own teachings.
Toddlers and Big Emotions
At this age, kids don’t fully understand their emotions. They lash out because they don’t know how to process frustration, anger, or disappointment. My son didn’t hit my mother to be mean—he hit because he didn’t know a better way to express his feelings. And instead of guiding him in that moment, I let my frustration take over, too.
What I Did Next
Once I calmed down, I picked him up and hugged him. I looked into his eyes and said, "Mama is sorry. I shouldn’t have hit you. Hitting is not okay." Because if I expect him to learn, I have to model the same behavior. I want him to know that everyone makes mistakes, even parents, but what matters is what we do after.
What I Learned from This Experience
- I Need to Pause Before Reacting – Next time, I want to take a deep breath before responding. Hitting back in anger teaches nothing but fear.
- Toddlers Learn Through Us – If I want him to handle frustration differently, I need to show him how.
- Apologizing to Your Child is Powerful – It doesn’t make me weak. It makes me human. And it teaches him accountability.
- Guiding Him Through Big Emotions is Key – Instead of punishment, I need to help him understand his feelings and give him other ways to express anger—like words, deep breaths, or walking away.
Moving Forward
Parenting isn’t about being perfect. It’s about learning, growing, and doing better when we know better. I know there will be more tough moments, more times when frustration gets the best of me. But I also know that love, patience, and reflection will always guide me back.
To all the moms who have had a moment like this—you’re not alone. We’re all learning. And that’s okay.
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