PRP015: Angry Parents Part 2 Acting inline with values despite anger

Show Notes: Angry Parents Part 2 Acting inline with values despite anger
In Angry Parents Part 1, Dr Koa Whittingham (Parenting from the Heart - www.koawhittingham.com) introduced us to how Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) techniques and principles can help us to manage our anger when our kids press our buttons. Although there are ways to minimise anger, we can never get rid of it completely and forever. Our aim instead is to recognise but not be consumed by our anger such that we can act inline with our values despite anger.
Summary

Getting into the habit of mindfulness.

Formal, structured practice, e.g. guided mindfulness (see below), or yoga class.
Reminders around daily activities.
Can mindfully do anything.


How can we use this in the crucial situations (e.g. one child hurting the other).

It is difficult and needs practice.
Practice mindfulness when calm (there is a mindfulness exercise included in this podcast).
Mindful focus on the present.
Decide how you want to react to critical situations and practice it. Practice by yourself, so when you are angry you can draw on that practiced response.
Look for the pattern in difficult behaviour and try to prevent it.


Resources

Becoming Mum

Chapter 7: The Emotional Journey
Chapter 10: Taking care of yourself
Chapter 11: Building a rewarding life
Chapter 12: Social support


ACT on Life not Anger by Dr Eifert, Dr McKay, and Dr Forsyth



Links

Parenting from the Heart: www.koawhittingham.com
Becoming Mum
Dr Koa Whittingham's Meditations
Dr Russ Harris Mindfulness Meditation CDs
Possums Sleep Intervention: Possums Online, and Feed your baby to sleep - The possums sleep intervention new recommendations and podcast episode PRP017 coming soon.

For more great resources on Mindfulness and ACT for parents, check out thes links:

Free Mindfulness Meditation App for pregnant couples: Mind the Bump .Org .Au
9 Tips for Mindful Mothering
ACT: Taking Hurt to Hope – Struggling with attachment with Newborns

This is the second Episode in the series, here are links to the rest of the series:

PRP014: Angry Parents Part 1 Acting inline with values despite anger
PRP015: Angry Parents Part 2 Acting inline with values despite anger
PRP016: Becoming a Mother
PRP017: The Possums Sleep Intervention Part 1
PRP018: The Possums Sleep Intervention Part 2
PRP019: The Possums Sleep Intervention Part 3
PRP020: The Possums Sleep Intervention Part 4

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