Radio Commentary
You would be
surprised how much good can result when a parent counts to 10 before responding
to a child, especially in a tense situation, according to child behavior
specialist Betsy Brown Braun.
When
such a situation arises, pause. Don’t react. Don’t say anything. Avoid making
any immediate threats, judgments, or punishments. Just wait.
The
space created by that pause will help you think about your response, and will
lessen the likelihood of a “misfire” on your part that could compound the
problem.
It is not uncommon
for parents who are quick on the trigger to regret what came out in that first
rush of reaction.
Hasty judgments,
harsh consequences, or dire threats are very hard to take back once they’ve
been delivered.
For that reason, it
is far better to head them off before they are said out loud.
The simple act of
pausing and counting to 10 can buy the time necessary to react appropriately.
The pause can help a
parent get closer to a response that is deliberate and wise.
So take a breath,
count to 10, and use that time to think through what you really want to say and
how you really want to react. It will make most situations much easier to
handle.
