Do you feel like you are losing it with your children? Remember...

1. Take a deep breath. And another. Then remember you are the adult.

2. Close your eyes and imagine you're hearing what your child is about to hear.

3. Press your lips together and count to 20. Or better yet, to 50.

4. Put your child in a time-out chair. (Remember the rule: one time out minute for each year of age.)

5. Put yourself in a time-out chair. Think about why you are angry. Is it your child, or is your child simply a convenient target for your anger?

6. Phone a friend.

7. If someone can watch the children, go outside and jog or take a walk.

8. Take a hot bath or splash cold water on your face.

9. Hug a pillow.

10. Turn on some music. Maybe even dance or sing along.

11. Pick up a pencil and write down as many helpful words as you can think of and save the list.

12. Read these reasons why spanking doesn't work.

13. Call for prevention information.

Parents Anonymous, Hampton Roads Committee to Prevent Child Abuse

Downtown Norfolk YMCA, 312 W, Bute St., Norfolk, VA 23510

Parenting in the 90s Home Page