Ep #141 Not Just About the Dishes: How Hidden Thoughts Hijack Your Parenting

Ever send a text you regretted THE SECOND your thumb hit "send"? 🙋‍♀️ Just had one of those mom-text moments that made my stomach do that "oh no" flip. You know the one!

Today I'm spilling about a moment (spoiler: it involved a car that looked like a convenience store had exploded inside it) and the thought-work rabbit hole I tumbled down afterward.

The Mom-Brain Meltdown

We just returned from our 6-month family adventure, and suddenly we're back to normal life. The house was a disaster, I was a walking jet lag zombie, and then I found THE CAR. 🤯

Cue text message that basically said "I guess no one cares about cleaning up" (with extra mom-sass).

And then... that sinking feeling hit.

The Secret Thoughts

My brain was secretly thinking:

• "I shouldn't have to deal with this after coming home from a trip."
• "My teenagers are TOTALLY taking advantage of me."
• "They don't respect me/our home/our car"
• "I'm failing at teaching responsibility."

Sound familiar? Please tell me I'm not alone! 🙏

Your Brain: Basically a Junk Drawer

These thoughts were building up like that kitchen junk drawer we all have. You know, the one where you toss random stuff until one day you desperately need something in it and you can't find it??!!! 

The Five Thought-Error Styles

1. The Catastrophizer: "If my child doesn't learn this now, they'll live in my basement forever."
2. The Comparer: "Kim's kids would NEVER leave a mess like this." (They absolutely do.)
3. The Crystal Ball Reader: "This behavior means my child is definitely going to end up like my weird uncle."
4. The Mind Reader: "My child KNOWS this drives me crazy and is doing it to push my buttons."
5. The Personalizer: "This messy room is a billboard announcing my failure as a parent."

Thought-Catching Tools

1. Daily Thought Download: 5 minutes of word-vomiting all your parenting thoughts onto paper.
2. Trigger Tracker: When eye-twitchy parent rage builds, write down the facts, your thoughts, feelings, actions, and the mess they created.
3. Thought Swap: Try different thoughts like you're in a mental changing room.
4. Reality Check: Ask, "Is this thought 100% true, or am I being dramatic?"
5. Future Self Question: "What would wise, gray-haired future-me think about this?"

Your Homework

This week, become a thought detective. Those annoying thoughts? They're leaving clues EVERYWHERE. Catch them before they turn you into a passive-aggressive texting monster.

When you notice a thought that doesn't feel good, write it down and decide if it's helping you be the parent your kid needs.

Choose thoughts that feel true AND helpful. Not "I LOVE crusty dishes!" but maybe "This is normal teenage behavior, not a personal attack."

Final Thoughts

Finding and owning your thoughts isn't about becoming a perfect parent with perfect thoughts. It's about catching yourself before you spiral and remembering that your thoughts create your reality.

If you've got your own "I can't believe I said that" moment, a question, or you'd love me to cover a topic on the podcast, slide into my DMs on Instagram @connectmethodparenting!

And if this episode saved you from sending your own regrettable message, show a girl some love and leave a review! ⭐

Until next time: connection before correction (and maybe put a delay on your text messages 😉).

Byeeee! 💕

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