If you find yourself screaming at the kids despite your best efforts, then you’re not alone. Because being a parent is a most stressful job in the world. There are bound to be times when you feel too tired or emotional to deal effectively with your child, and if you regularly feel like you can’t control them, your anxiety levels will rocket. Plus, heated rows and unruly behavior almost guaranteed to cause headaches, sleepless nights and even depression. But you can’t live in this way for long. So here are some ideas that will help you in minimizing this stress.
From toddlers to teens here’s how to keep the upper hand and turn family hell into heaven.
Step 1: Don’t lose your patience, don’t scream at kids: Coming in after a hard day to find your kids screaming at each other is guaranteed to send your stress level soaring. The golden rule is to never rush into a stressful situation when you are already stressed. Shouting will achieve nothing but raise blood pressure, so rather than going in with all guns blazing (unless, of course, they’re killing each other) try and remove yourself from the situation for five minutes. Make yourself a cup of tea or sit-down in some quiet place and take slow, deep breaths. This way, when you try to sort them out, you will be calmer and more rational and the kids will respond to you better than they would to a screaming mommy. And you’ll feel better too.

Step 2: Don’t make a big issue out of the short one: When a stressful situation arises with your child-for instance she refuses to wear the clothes you want her to, so don’t turn it into a big issue. Don’t divorce your kids, because you’ll just end up turning furious and unhappy. So instead of focusing on the small details (the exact sweater you laid out, for example), think about your bigger goal- keeping your child warm, an her choose something appropriate to wear. It will keep your stress levels down and let your child have the chance to make choices and develop as an individual.

Step 3: Don’t give your child the double messages: If you need to punish your child, it’s vital that you and your partner back each other up. Otherwise your child will be confused by mixed messages and may start using your opposing views to play you off against each other. My rule for parents is: whoever deals with child first decides on the appropriate punishment, and the other parent HAS to endorse it. If you disagree with how yours partner has handled the situation, talk about it – but privately, as a way of deciding how you’ll handle the similar situation in future.

Step 4: Have time to play with your child: Sometimes all you want is a bit of peace. But that often seems to be the very moment that your child wants attention- leaving you irritable and tired. The secret is to make sure you play with her whenever you do have the time and energy. Studies show that children have fewer behavioral problems if their parents play with them regularly, and importantly, let the kids be in charge of the games. It gives them confidence, boosts their creativity and lets them know they’re important to you. If they know they give them time when you can, chance is they’ll be less difficult when you are busy.
        And the last thing I want from parents is to stick to your rules. For instance, when you have to take away your toddler’s teddy for misbehavior, it’s hard to stick to your word against the tirade of tears, but you must. Remember you’re doing it because you love her and you want her to grow up into a happy, well-mannered adult. Don’t doubt your parenting skills …..Stick to your guns and there’ll be fewer rows, less headaches and more time for fun.