One of my good friends, Courtney DeFeo, author of In This House, We Will Giggle ….. uses creative and fun ways to teach the 12 virtues to your children. For example, Courtney uses the “Giving Thanks” bag, which you can design with your kids, to demonstrate gratitude to your kids. Some of the other virtues covered in the book are faith, love, and forgiveness. Love them all!
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Imagine your house was flooding with tsunami-sized waves and your kids were running for their lives. Your husband is ahead of you picking up the kids turning back with intense look of fear all over his face. They are all running for the door.
We’ve never had a flood like that. I’ve just seen these faces of fear. Because I have been the tsunami tearing through our home. And they are running for safe ground away from my bad mood or far away from the wrath of the clean-up monster.
It’s so horrific I am admitting this to you today, because I am supposed to be the queen of fun and great moods. I have struggled with my moods. I do love a fun home, but little things can certainly set me off and I have to fight against my normal self. I do not want those kids to fear me or anything in our home.
I must be the grown up – the one to break the bad mood cycle. It often starts with me and ripples through each person. So, what if I chose to break it and infuse joy and laughter?
10 Ways to Break a Bad Mood Cycle
Here are a few ways I’ve found to give our household an infusion of joy.
- Tickle Attack. Chase down someone and tickle until belly laughter erupts.
- Play Hide-and-Seek. This old school game works every time.
- Cuddle Up and Read a Book. Take turns with a timer if you have multiple kids.
- Funny Face Contest. Have them start behind a wall and jump out.
- Dance Party. Burn a CD of your go-to tunes to have on call for when moods start to spiral down.
- Encourage Someone. Loving on others takes the focus off us and replaces crankiness with compassion.
- Change Scenes. We often jump in the car for a sweet-tea run for mom or walk to a playground to get our smiles going.
- Indoor Tag. Let them chase you around the house. (Consider earplugs for high squealing.)
- Play. Crazy concept, but making time to play with them or style a crazy hairdo for them is a surefire joy-starter.
- Listen. I take turns asking them questions from silly to insightful. (What made you happy? What would you do if…?)
I am thankful for progress in this area and for prayer. I am thankful for grace, mercy and forgiveness. And for the joy that comes from the choosing to break the bad mood cycle.
How do you break the bad mood cycle in your home?
