Calming Angry Kids :: Tricia Goyer [Ep 220]

Tricia Goyer is an author, speaker and homeschooling mom of ten. She also knows what it's like to parent children with chronic anger. If you've ever felt alone in how to calm your "angry kid(s)," Tricia has a lot of wisdom to share from parenting both biological and adopted children.

In true Don't Mom Alone fashion, Tricia and I answer several listener questions about how to respond in love and help kids of all ages process their anger and emotions. We talk about how much harder it is for the current generation of moms who have to factor in busier schedules, social media and more as a part of their children's environments

My oldest is 29 and my youngest is 8. It is so much harder now. I feel like I'm on the second generation of kids. Now there is social media. There is more television. There are more video games. The access that they have to all these things brings so much anxiety and tension. Not only do they have to go to school, but then they would come home and see on social media that people were talking about them. It's just so much more involved now even than it was when I had my first generation of kids.

But it's not impossible! Tricia shares so many great practical tips and suggestions for how to help our kids (and ourselves) work through anger in a healthy way. But beyond all the tips, it all comes down to leaning into God and praying for the Holy Spirit to fill them that will make the biggest difference.

It's really the Holy Spirit in them and the fruit of the Spirit is God in them that's going to change them. I could try all these activities. You know, we could do calming bags or coping skills. I mean we do all the things too. But really it is God in them. And the more they lean on God and the more they depend on him that they'll truly change.

What we chat about:

Tricia's family, career and unique calling as an adoptive parent

Her new book, Calming Angry Kids

Determining if your child is struggling with how to process anger in a healthy way

Giving our kids time, attention and praise is a powerful antidote to anger

Everyone gets mad, what we do with the anger makes the difference

When they are in the middle of the emotions, it's not the time to discipline them

Kids learn to apologize when we model it for them

Anger is often a secondary emotion from a deeper wounding like shame or feeling unloved or anxiety

Family schedules are busier than ever before and it heightens anxiety in kids and parents

Take time to process emotions with your kids and say "No" to more activities or events if they need a break

Tricia shares both how we can process our own anger and how to help our angry kids

The idea of an anger log to help track anger over time

Calming bags and items you can include in them

Give your kids time and space to calm down

Specific tips for pre-teens and teens and helping them with anger and hormones

Connect with Tricia:

Links Mentioned:

Calming Angry Kids: Help and Hope for Parents in the Whirlwind **

Prayer Journals

Big Kids **

Little Kids **

An Interview with Tricia Goyer {GCM Podcast Ep. 7}

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