Do you recognize the reflection of yourself in your children? Does your chest swell with pride and recognition when your child excels in a task? I suppose that is a whopping ‘Yes’ to those questions. We all relate very well and see ourselves somewhat in the accomplishments of our kids.

Now, how about when the child is misbehaving, ignoring you, talking back rudely? Do you recognize yourself? Does your chest swell with pride? Well, it should. That chip off the old block is doing a replay of that sweet song you used to play for YOUR parents. Ain’t it grand. Aren’t cha’ proud?

Now, about your reaction to these fun-mirror distortions of yourself… Do you get hopping mad? Fly off the handle? Find yourself struggling to keep your cool? Fret not, mes amie. All you have to do is remember that it is really YOU that you are seeing and suddenly your compassion will ease your anxiety. I know there is a chance that you never indulged in the EXACT displays of perniciousness displayed so often before you but a rose by any other name smells just as sweet.

What to do? Stop. Breathe. Breathe again … then think. ‘What would happen if I did nothing?’ Many times doing nothing is so unexpected that the shock of it spoils the kids’ fun and they drop the activity from sheer wonder or boredom. Not an option? Low, even, calm tones when speaking as you physically remove or direct the move(s) of the culprit help to re-mind the little (or not so little) darling who is really in charge of this operation (Home University). Whatever you do, do not get into a shouting match. It puts you on their level and in their eyes, corrodes their respect of you.

This is just for starters and mostly to re-mind YOU that we are all mirrors to each other. Even our kids to us.

What do you do when you encounter outrageous behavior in your child?