Long overdue return...

Remember 2.5 weeks ago, the last post on parenting from Proverbs? Hmm... took a little break there somehow!

We were finishing up a more extensive look at foolish anger in comparison with the wrath of a holy God against sin. I never did finish up the discussion about dealing with anger in our children.

I've been browsing around some articles about teaching anger management to kids. Personally, one of the big takeaways that I'd like to start working on more specifically with AG is identifying what makes her angry and labeling the emotion she's feeling. Anger isn't a huge problem for her at this point, but she does quickly escalate from slight disappointment or frustration to a full-out angry, screaming fit! Lovely! [Hmmm... that's happening right now, actually.]

I'm planning to get one of those "emotion charts" with all of the faces and the different emotions (frustrated, disappointed, overwhelmed, jealous, etc.) written underneath to start labeling and defining, labeling and defining, and pointing out to her what is making her act out in anger. Obviously a 3 year old only has so much impulse control, but it's one step in the right direction.

Rather than pretending to be an expert on this, which I am not, check out this article about teaching our children self-control, or in other words, how to "be angry and sin not"!

And I might as well confess, I know that I don't always model godly anger management myself. Like when I stomp my foot and yell in frustration. Yep, I did just admit that to the world. Little eyes are watching us - O Lord may we follow closely after you, and may you continue to transform us by your Spirit and your Word.

He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city.
Proverbs 16:32