By His Grace I Can.

Things have been rough in our home lately.  It feels like the kids are more often than not very contentious and critical of each other, and oftentimes I chime in with cutting remarks to counter theirs.  This evening, while attempting to have dinner, one son was chasing another with a broom and a third one got involved and got clawed by his angry brother.  We called everyone over to try to sort things out and calm them down, but one by one the kids were "casting in" their own "stones".  I felt like I was looking at a group of feral, injured animals, all ready to pounce and inflict more wounds.  My frustration turned to sadness. Though my son's scratches were only surface level, I felt a tenderness towards this often unruly son and with it a desire to gently put band aids on his arm.  Then quietly I opened to one of the most poignant passages of scripture, Alma 7:11-12,    And he shall go forth, suffering pains and   afflictions   and ...

My sister-in-law recently asked for advice on how to stay calm with her young kids. I am no expert and still have a ways to go, but I've come a long way. So I'll share what tips work for me in case they come in handy for you. This morning reminded me of where I try to start with creating calm in my home. My son has sensory processing issues. As I've seen what textures, temperatures, sounds, and tastes affect him, I've been increasingly aware of what affects me. I've come to realize how little seemingly insignificant inputs can add up to disrupt my day. Take this morning for instance. My kids all seemed particularly grumpy about getting ready for school but I noticed I was more irritable than the situation would typically merit. So I took a self assessment. How did I feel? I quickly realized that... My cuddly PJs were great for sleeping but were now making me hot. Feeling too warm instantly invites irritability for me! (As a side note, I have foun...