Hi ,

Let's face it: we all have the occasional bad day. You oversleep, have a headache, realize you missed a bill and you're out of milk, and your kids pick up on that. All of a sudden, your little angels are cranky, whiny, picking fights with each other, and refusing to do their chores and schoolwork. Sound familiar?

Don't worry, it's fixable!

I have a friend who says, "Just add water." That might mean you plop your toddler in the bath, set up the sprinkler, take your kids to the pool, or let them have a beach day. For whatever reason, water has a calming effect on people. There's a reason why those little desktop water fountains are popular.

Time outside can also do the trick, with or without water. Put aside your to-dos and take your kids for a walk, or better yet, a hike. This gets all of you into nature, natural light (hopefully sun, but even if it's cloudy or rainy, it can help), and fresh air, all of which can improve moods. Exercise is also a good way to reset and ground. Bonus points if your hike takes you by a lake or creek!

What if the weather's lousy and you really don't want to go outside? Field trip time! Head out to a museum or other attraction. The change of location can work wonders. (For the longest time, no matter how trying my kids were at home, they always behaved perfectly in public. Not any more, but it was glorious while it lasted.)

Okay, not only is your teen giving you attitude and your toddler making a mess, but your middle child is sick, too! You can't take them out to infect others. Make it a movie day! Abandon the schoolwork, chores, dishes, and laundry for the day (they'll still be there tomorrow!) and pop in a movie. If your homeschooler-guilt won't let you completely take a day off, put on a documentary. You can all relax but you'll still learn a ton.

This last strategy is my favorite: cooperative games! We have a range of cooperative games from easy and relaxing to ones that really challenge us. On extra-difficult days, an easy cooperative game can get us all in the mood to work together. And of course, your kids are still learning, so it's a win!

What are your preferred ways to reset and recover from a bad day? Until next time,

Happy Gaming!

~Ashley

Gypsy Gameschooler