Question
My daughter has continued to struggle with big emotions!
Lately, we have seen some improvement with the after school issues and outbursts towards her sister and me, but now her mornings from the second she wakes up are full of anger. She is yelling, stomping, and just aggravated. I can’t figure out how to help. I give her a smoothie right away thinking it is hunger. Sometimes, I just go sit with her, thinking she needs some connection. But I am at a loss and then she, myself and her little sister get worked up. She has been nasty and disrespectful too. I have tried asking for her input. I get very little out of her. Her bedtime is the same as usual. I try to talk with her to see if there is a reason for this issue and anger. All she can say is “I don’t know why I have such a bad attitude”
Have any ideas? Waking up to start the day like this is rough!
Answer
I want to change your goal.
Her morning irritability is probably due to feeling that morning groggy feeling we have in our body.
Instead of calling it a “bad attitude” give it the correct label and say to her “you know in the morning you’re feeling groggy. So it’s okay to get through the morning routine feeling yucky until the groggy passes”.
So if she screams, you say “oops groggy is speaking - I’m gonna kiss it away”.
If she stomps - let it go.
If she is aggravated and gives you attitude BUT is also following the routine of the morning, let it go….
A lot of people do not feel themselves when they wake up for up to an hour.
In the future, she will tell her friends and partners, “I hate mornings so give me space….”
Stop fighting the groggy irritable baby.