Ever have a bad day, one that you wish you had a reset button for? Where one thing falls apart and 10 more fall apart with it? The type where no matter how much you try to get things done, nothing actually gets accomplished.
That was me today until my friend called and gave me a piece of advice that literally turned my day around.
Of course she called at the worst possible moment, I don’t even know why I answered. I threw the phone to my ear and kinked my neck so I could hold it hands free. She started chatting while I changed yet another diaper explosion. I was only half listening and she could tell, so she kinda laughed and asked how my day was.
I was in a brutally honest mood so I told her it was pointless. Litterally my day was pointless {or so I felt}, I was wasting away my energy getting nothing done and now I was frustrated at my little girl who, I knew, was only acting out because she had picked up on my stress. All day my daughter and I had built off of each other in a negative way, I had lost my patience and so had she. We were both having a bad day and we were in a circle with each other just making it a worse.
And that was when my dear friend gave me the best advice.
How to Fix a Bad Day:
Quality Time.
Pause your day and just embrace a good solid moment with your kid(s). — Walk away from your to-do list, ignore your house chores, put it all on pause for a minute. It’s so simple and yet genius! Seriously, sometimes it’s the small and simple things that make the biggest difference.
Take a chunk of time and make it all about them. Get down on their level, play with them, talk with them, or snuggle on the couch and pop in a movie {and maybe even pop some popcorn!}. Make it an hour of fun, or half an hour if that’s all you can squeeze. It’s amazing what some quality time can do to transform a bad mood.
We tried it and I was shocked, seriously shocked, at how marvelous the moment was! The 30 minute “delay” was the best thing I could have possibly done, afterward my daughter was a totally new person and you know what, so was I. She then played on her own nicely and I had the most productive hour of my life! My girl was just starving for my attention. Now granted, my daughter is 1, and it’s much easier to reset a 1 year old than older kids but I still think this is worth a shot! Because not only did that time together help her, it helped me too.
My attitude totally changed, I needed a reminder on what in life was most important. If dinner was late, the house stayed a mess and the laundry didn’t get done it would be ok because in 10 years what am I going to look back at and remember?
I know you could argue that my child was whining and I should discipline her but to tell you the truth I wasn’t in a place that I could, I was too frustrated and too short. And really it was my deal, it was my bad day to start with. It was me that was rubbing off negatively on her and for us the best way to move forward was to reset, reset both her and me. And now I challenge you, on your next bad day:
Press Reset. Pause your day and just embrace a good solid moment with your kid.
I promise you aren’t the only one that’s having a bad day, we’ve all been there.
Come connect with use over on Facebook, you’ll see tons of moms just being real with one another!
More posts from The Realistic Mama:
10 Ways to Raise a Confident Child
10 Marriage Tips Every Wife Should Follow
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What a great reminder-I always find things improve when we head outside, just taking time to relax and be with the girls makes all the difference. 🙂
Wise words. Its true they work. My kids aren’t small anymore. But it still works on teenagers. Guess what? My mom called me today when I was having a bad day. She took time to just listen. Made all the difference. Just goes to prove- works on 43 year olds too. Have a great day! Great article!
Just going to give it a try, my boy is 9 but I think it might just work!
You are right it is so simple but so true! I am working hard to remind myself that the world really won’t come to an end if I stop stressing about all the “stuff” that needs doing and just enjoy time with my daughter.
It’s amazing how quickly the “stuff” can pile up and overwhelm us. I totally get it! Enjoy pushing it aside for a moment and enjoying some quality time with your girl! You’re doing great mama!
Hi,great remainder.Sometimes tense and stuck in pile up chores we forgot that children need quality time and they become really nice obidient kids when given little attention.
Best is to schedulize the week in a proper manner to avoid pile ups.
Awesome tip. The time out is really for the mom. Sometimes that break and love we feel for and from the kids is all the medicine we need to get us calm again.
Another good tip…When I was little, my twin sister would sometimes wake up cranky. My mom would ask her, “Did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed? Go back to bed roll over and start the day over. Go!” She’d literally go and roll around in the bed and come back laughing.
“If in doubt, get them out” is our constant refrain. No matter how bad the day, or how busy if I take my (3x under 4) boys outside we ALWAYS relax! Sometimes it’s out to the clothes line, sometimes its checking to mail box and sometimes the reserve or playground. 10 minutes usually turns into 30+ and we’re all happy.
Love going outside! Something about that fresh air and gross motor play does magic, doesn’t it!