"STOP!" I roared at my son...

...the kind of roar that’s usually reserved for the dog these days (anyone else relate to "dog rage" after becoming a mom?)

I had felt it boiling up in the minutes and hours leading up to it.

My mother-in-law was visiting for the weekend. My baby was either teething or reacting to a change in my diet. My three-year-old was being, well, three.

And I had planned to get a bunch of work done — until my husband came down with a stomach bug and quarantined himself in another room.

Nothing gets me dysregulated quicker than the fear of my kids getting sick — especially when they’re babies.

Add in my phobia of throw-up and it's no wonder I wasn't roaring more.

And, it turned out to be a false alarm, but at one point, my son said he suddenly needed to go to the bathroom, and I panicked, thinking he was about to get sick too.

Since he’s three, he was also running away from me and refusing to cooperate.

The baby was crying for me. My husband couldn’t help.

Everyone needed me — young, old, and in between — and I hadn’t met a single one of my own basic needs all day.

When my “anger went boom” (we got that from this book affiliate Amazon link), the roar came out so strong that I saw fear flash in my son’s eyes.

His tears welled up, and I was hit with that familiar pang of shame and guilt.

Of course, I apologized. But I still felt awful.

Later, my son came up to me and said, “Sorry, Mama,” out of the blue.

I knelt down and asked what he meant.

He said, “Sorry for whatever I did… when I was going potty.”

My heart sank.

“Oh, honey,” I said, “I’M the one who’s sorry. I shouldn’t have yelled. I’m so sorry Mommy scared you. I love you so much.”

He smiled and said, “No, I’M the one who’s sorry!”

I answered, “Nooo, I’M the one who’s sorry!” and playfully tickled his arm.

“NOOO! I’M the one who’s sorry!” he giggled, collapsing into my arms.

We kept going back and forth for a few rounds as I hugged him, kissed his cheeks, and wiggled him around.

His laughter filled the room and melted my shame. We moved on with our night.

"Wow," I thought afterward. "Leave it to a child to find the game in anything — even a hard moment like this."

Using their innate wisdom, kids often turn to playfulness to repair and reconnect.

We have so much to learn from our kids.

My invitation for you this week:

Look for a chance to bring playfulness into repair.

If you’re human, there will definitely be an opportunity!

Love (and lots of grace),

Mia

Resources:

​Little Moments for Big Laughs: Quick, super-easy ideas to connect with your kids through silliness and laughter!

• Includes: ebook, reflection journal, printable calendars, & gentle email nudges with tips to help you embrace your silly side.

​Pretend Play Pro: How to stop dreading pretend play and start using it as your parenting superpower.

Simple concepts, theatre-inspired techniques, and easy-to-remember formulas to make pretend play actually enjoyable and rewarding for YOU.

• Comprehensive video masterclass and resource bundle.
• Now available at a lower price — includes Little Moments for Big Laughs, free with purchase.