Sonia’s story takes us through emotions many of us have experienced:

• Shame: Sonia feels like the bus driver is blaming her for her boys’ behavior. The warning look makes Sonia feel ashamed of her parenting.
• Anger/frustration: Sonia is angry about Justin’s behavior and frustrated that her boys always seem to be the ones in trouble.
• Fear/worry: As the anger passes, Sonia starts to worry and the “what ifs” seep in.

In addition to these emotions, parents or caregivers may also feel:

• Despair, or a feeling of “just wanting to give up.”
• Guilt (which is related to shame). Unlike shame, which is a feeling that you are wrong, guilt is the feeling that you did something wrong.
• Isolation, or a sense that no one else knows what it’s like to be where you are right now.

Now that you know how to recognize some of the emotions parents and caregivers may feel when their child is out of control, you can explore some ways to manage them.

Reflection

Think about a time when your child was out of control. What did you feel? What were you thinking when the child was out of control?

If it helps you, download and print the Reflection Journal worksheet to write about your experiences.