There are plenty of moments in mom life, where the day can quickly become overwhelming. Unless you are very intentional to stay calm as a mom, you will quickly become the overwhelmed angry mom you never wanted to be like.
This post is all about quick, practical ways to stop mom rage in its tracks when you feel yourself becoming the overwhelmed angry mom nobody enjoys.
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How to Not Be the Overwhelmed Angry Mom
Create Your Own Mom Playlist
I’ve found that on the days I have a lot to get done, my patience with my kids is far shorter. I become an overwhelmed angry mom very quickly in my pursuit of my to do list and I forget what matters most to me (my family and kids of course).
So, I decided to create a playlist called, “I Love Being a Mom,” full of songs that reminded me of the beauty of motherhood.
Here are a few of the songs I’ve added to mine:
- “Counting My Blessings” by Seph Schlueter
- “Ordinary Days” by JJ Heller
- “Faith Hope Love Repeat” by Brandon Heath
- “Thank You Lord” by Chris Tomlin
- “Growin’ Up Raising You” by Gabby Barrett
Brain Dump
It’s amazing how many things the mom brain can hold and juggle at a single time. We are constantly considering nap times, bed times, when to run errands, what to make for lunch, when we should start dinner, how badly we need to mop the floor, and the list goes on.
So, instead of letting that wild to do tornado go wild in your brain, grab a piece of paper or a buy yourself a cute to-do list notepad to brain dump your day onto. I’ve found this to be extremely helpful to my mental sanity on busy days and it also helps me get more done.
Eliminate Phrases Like, “I’m So Done”
What phrase do you use when you’ve reached the end of your patience with your kids. For me, it was always, “I’m so done.” I don’t know why or how it happened. It snuck up on me so much that I didn’t realize it for a long time.
But, I was listening to a video by Transformed Homemakers Society and she talked about replacing, “I’m so done,” (or whatever your phrase may be) with “Jesus help me.”
It seemed like such a little change but I figured it was worth a shot. And it was… It was amazing how big of a mental shift it was to ask the Lord to help me in a moment of overwhelm versus announcing to myself and those around me that I had hit my limit.
Have a Dance Party
While music can sometimes be overstimulating on crazy motherhood days, there are other days where music can remind me to take myself a little less seriously. Sometimes pausing what I’m doing, picking a song I know my kids love, and dancing crazy with them for a few minutes is enough to remind me how much I love my little life.
Find a Clean Up Song You Love
One of the biggest triggers for mom overwhelm is a messy house. It’s not the last straw that does it, but stepping on that last lego that got left out.
So, when you feel overwhelmed, turn on a fun clean up song and have everyone pitch in to make your home a little less overwhelming to look at. Our two favorites are “Clean Up the House,” from Bear in the Big Blue House and “Clean It Up,” by Juicebox Jukebox.
Think of Something Adorable or Hilarious Your Child Does
When your child has pushed every button all morning, it’s easy to start losing your patience and responding in ways that are less than ideal.
One of the best ways to stay calm in that moment is to think of the cute and hilarious little quirks that they have that make you smile. It might be the way they say a certain word or phrase or the adorable way they laugh.
Start a Prayer Pantry
One of the best ways to stop focusing on your bad day is to start thinking about someone else. So, text a friend or pray for a friend. I like to do this by keeping some sticky notes and a pen by my coffee maker and putting up my friends’ prayer requests inside my pantry door.
So, when I’m overwhelmed cooking a meal for my kids, I can pause, pray, and lose the pity party.
Have Designated Play Times
I’ve found that my kids behave much better throughout the day if we start off the day playing together. So, try to have designated play times in the morning and afternoon. This will not only help prevent your kids from acting out for attention, it will also strengthen your relationship with your kids and in turn create more respect even in difficult moments.
Name Your Feelings
Explaining to your kids that you are frustrated, sad, or disappointed when they do something helps them to better understand emotional regulation and also makes you pause before you decide to yell. Those couple seconds can totally change your response.
Do a Kid Workout Together
If your kids are acting wild and you are overwhelmed with your day, try turning on a kid workout on YouTube to do together. Your kids will burn a little energy off and you get a quick reset. Here is a list of all our favorites!
Write Down Moments to Remember
I purchased one of these, “One Line a Day,” books a few years ago and I absolutely love looking back through the memories I’ve written down over the years.
Having a book like this nearby is a quick and easy way to bring yourself back to reality when your day feels overwhelming.
Do a Quick Reality Check
Disappointment is nothing more than the difference between our expectations and reality. So, if your expectations for your days are unrealistic, you will constantly be disappointed, frustrated, and overwhelmed.
Don’t make a mile long to-do list or expect to run 12 errands without one of your kids melting down. Aiming for three goals per day is usually a good place to start.
Allow Yourself to Step Away
While I’m sure you’ve heard this one before, it really is true. It’s okay to step away. There have been times I’ve hit my limit and when one of my kids intentionally disobeys I know I can’t respond well at that moment.
It’s okay to tell your child that what they did was unacceptable and you need a moment to calm down before talking to them. Simply, set them in a chair or somewhere to wait and take a minute or two to calm yourself and determine the best way to respond.
Stop Filling Up Every Moment
As a mom, it’s easy to feel the urge to make the most of each and every moment of the day. It might be to maximize productivity or do something for you. But, sometimes, that background noise is actually what’s pushing you over the edge.
Your kids are yelling playing in the background, your baby might be crying, and your attempt to listen to music or your favorite podcast is actually just throwing your brain into sensory overload.
Don’t Take Yourself So Seriously
There are days where I consciously have to remind myself to be a little bit silly with my kids. It’s okay to bounce on the trampoline with them, squeeze into the dress up clothes, let them bury you in the sandbox, or have a stuffed animal tea party.
This post was all about quick and easy ways to recenter yourself on the busy days and avoid becoming the overwhelmed angry mom you hate being. I hope these help you stay calm in the chaos and remind you to dwell on the beautiful moments.
-Beautifully Busy Mom
Meet the Author
Hi, I’m Monica! I’m a former teacher turned stay at home mom of three! I started this blog after feeling very lonely at the beginning of my motherhood journey. My goal is that no other moms would feel the way that I felt. So, this blog is filled with free resources, fun activities, and answers to the not so easy questions. That way, you can enjoy the beautiful chaos that is motherhood. Let’s be friends 🙂
