Advice no one asked for...

I'm sorry to say this but kids?...they don’t owe you perfect behavior. They just don't. They’re learning, just like you. Expecting them to always listen, be calm, and act “right” is setting yourself up for frustration. Kids aren’t little robots programmed to behave perfectly—they’re messy, emotional, and figuring things out just like we are. Expecting them to always “act right” is like expecting yourself to never have a bad day. Impossible! The key is meeting them where they are instead of fighting reality. Less control, more guidance. Less “why won’t you just listen?!” and more “okay, what’s really going on here?” Saves a lot of frustration—for both of you. Breathe before you react. Breathe when the chaos hits. Breathe when you feel like you’re about to lose it. Kids push buttons—it’s their job. Your job? Not letting them push all of yours at once. A deep breath won’t fix everything, but it’ll buy you a few extra seconds of sanity. Sometimes, that’s all you need.