Five Tips on How to Avoid Getting Angry as a Mom

How to avoid getting angry as a mom is not something I ever thought I would address, because I have no formula for you. It is something I struggle with and I feel I have no basis to provide advice on it. Yet I remember how isolated I felt as a young mother struggling with anger. I have made some progress in avoiding anger, yet I often still struggle. So please know you are not alone in your struggle! Learning how to avoid getting angry is a continual process, but there are some simple and practical ways you can being to learn how.

Sometimes there are valid reasons for getting angry with our children, like if they’ve dumped all the dishwasher detergent onto the floor. We still should not get angry, but that is enough to try anyone. But other times, we snap for no known reason. Our patience is short and we are just plain irritable. I find these are the times I struggle the most. I believe these five proactive habits can help us avoid getting angry and being a grouchy mommy. 

1. Get enough rest. When we are fully rested, we are able to handle the ups and downs of the day with much more grace and avoid getting angry. I know that motherhood doesn’t exactly lend itself to getting enough sleep, but do your best! Go to bed when the baby does instead of watching something. Take a nap, sleep in some. Think about it and see if there is a way you can get even another half hour. 
2. Drink enough water. I read this tip years ago, specifically for having smoother days as mothers. The general advice is eight 8 ounce glasses. I try to drink at least two with breakfast so I’m starting the day out hydrated. Not only is it a healthy thing to do, but it helps so much mentally. 
3. Eat regularly. It’s the same as the water. We are always more irritable when we are hungry. This goes for our kids too! But it can be easy to forget about ourselves and making that a priority too and then we’re finding it hard to avoid getting angry. It’s especially important to eat a filling breakfast. Preparing meals is a typical time of day I struggle with getting angry, and if I’m really hungry too, it’s that much harder. Having snacks when I need them helps me not get to that point. 
4. Take some time each day for yourself. Carve out half an hour or so where the kids know not to bother you unless it’s an emergency. If you have any nappers, all or part of their naps are a perfect time. We’ve always had a quiet time in our home, and it’s vital to my mental health. I’ve learned to not use it for household things, but things that actually restore me. That way I feel a bit more fulfilled and less likely to struggle with getting angry. You can also take an extra minute in the bathroom, sit and be quiet a moment while the kids are actually playing happily, or just stare out the window a moment before you start washing the dishes. There are so many little ways we can do something to pause and take a moment just for us. 
5. Let go of unrealistic expectations. This goes for your kids and yourself. I often am getting angry with my kids because either I expect too much from them, or they’re preventing me from meeting an unrealistic expectation I have for myself. Having perspective and grace for everyone, yourself included, can relieve a lot of pressure that can cause us to struggle with getting angry. Often my unrealistic expectations cause me to carry around a bit of anger which makes me more susceptible to getting angry as a mom. I can’t say it enough — grace and lower expectations will make for a more relaxed and loving mother who doesn’t struggle with getting angry quite as much. 

I hope these five practical tips for how to avoid getting angry are helpful to you.

Do you have any tips for avoiding getting angry as a mom?