One of my biggest concerns during my hormone issues was WHAT WILL THIS DO TO MY CHILDREN? Won’t this hurt my children emotionally?
Fortunately, I didn’t get physically violent as some do, but I did tend to get VERY mean. I yelled about anything and everything. I was impatient and irritable and didn’t really want to be around my children.
I couldn’t stand the noise and the demands which required energy that I didn’t have. So, NATURALLY, I was worried about them, and with good reason!
He encouraged me to explain to my children what was happening and why. He had me use the example of a car.
“A car needs gas to run. If there’s no gas in it, you can kick it, hit it, push it, but it WON’T RUN. Why? Something is missing, so it can’t work right. Well, something is missing in Mommy’s body too. That is why I act mean and yell, etc. I DON’T WANT to be that way but my body isn’t working right, and sometimes I respond wrong to you.”
After explaining that to my children, they were in tears! They felt sorry for ME instead of themselves! It was so important that they understood and knew it wasn’t anything they had done.
Also, I tried to always apologize after I responded wrong to them and was harsh. I would immediately regret my outburst, and end up going in the other room and crying. Then I would go to them and tell them how sorry I was, and reassure them that I loved them.
I tried to teach them that people don’t LIKE to act mean but often have a problem causing them to act that way, or they are acting that way because they are hurting. As I hugged them, they would pat MY back, comforting me. So, they were learning compassion through this.
My kids were also VERY quick to forgive. They always responded well when I admitted my mistakes and apologized. Their hugs and expressions told me it was okay. (I wish we were that forgiving as adults!)
I found that I COULD usually control my outbursts and hide my irritation if I prayed a lot, and TRIED really hard. Sometimes though, it just snuck up on me, and I didn’t handle it well.
The best thing that I found when this was a regular monthly thing for me, was to plan for it and lighten up on things as much as possible.
As soon as I sensed the irritation starting to come and my mood getting bad, I would realize I needed to prepare. I would try to get some time alone, and extra rest.
Do what you need to in order to make it less of a problem, if you struggle as I did.
At the same time when you do go through the depression, it can bring, or find yourself being totally out of character and control, don’t be TOO hard on yourself. Realize why it is happening and that you aren’t just an awful person. Be forgiving, while also doing what you can to help yourself.
Don’t focus on asking “what will this do to my children?” They will be okay if you apologize to them as often as needed, and tell them OFTEN that you love them.
Read more about how to homeschool through hormones in these posts below ⇓
How To Handle Homeschooling And Hormones
There Is Hope For Homeschooling And Hormones
Guilt and Depression – Homeschooling And Hormones
What Will Homeschooling Through Hormones Do To My Children?
What About My Husband? Homeschooling & Hormones
How To Find Joy When Homeschooling Through Hormones
If anger is an issue for you, be sure to grab this subscriber freebie with Bible verse cards about anger, as well as a printable list of how to respond to your anger.[magicactionbox]
3 Responses
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Wow – I can imagine that must be hard!! Glad the post helped. Hang in there!!
Thank you so much for this!
We adopted later in life, and I am going through menopause while homeschooling a 1st grader! There are days when I am so irritable and impatient that I snap at anything, and I do worry that he will suffer emotionally. I do apologize to him often, and I try to explain why mommy is like this, just as you said.
Thank you for the encouragement that I’m doing the right thing!