Transitions Despite Emotions

Transitions are difficult. Switching from one mode to another, especially if not by choice, is a challenge. It’s why the first day of school was so hard, or why bath time with kids is a fight, and big reason why morning coffee is so important (not because of the caffeine).

The wildcard in any transition is our emotions. They’re hard to control and can come out of nowhere and tip the scales.

Irrational emotions are easy to spot and a major reason I and many others choose to avoid them all together. Their wildcard nature hides their value and it’s much easier to suppress an emotion than it is to manage it. But like middle schoolers the more we suppress our emotions the deeper, darker, and more erratic they become.

Transitions are full of potential triggers for erratic emotional outbreaks. Keeping this mind and being cognizant is the first step in creating smooth and manageable transitions.
Noticed I didn’t say emotionless. That’s never going to happen unless you suppress them. But this short term solution will only revert us back to the 7th grade.

​Whenever anything has the potential to be volatile we will benefit from routine and practice. The right muscle memory will get us through any unknown situation. This is why parenting books emphasize consistency and routine. They give kids (and parents) something to rely on when everything else goes to shit.