Be the Peace in Your Child’s Storm
We’ve all been there—our child is melting down, yelling, maybe even saying rude things, and we feel the urge to yell back. We want control, and it feels like the only way to get it is by demanding it. But deep down, we know that never really works.
When our kids are out of control emotionally, they need to borrow our self-control. They need our calm, not our chaos. And if we look at how God parents us, He never meets our storms with more storms—He meets them with peace. Think of Jesus in the storm: He didn’t shout over it in frustration. He said, Peace, be still. And the storm calmed.
Responding with Peace
When emotions are high, logic is low. A child in the middle of a meltdown isn’t in a place to listen, learn, or be reasoned with. This isn’t the time for discipline or life lessons—it’s a time for connection and calming presence. Instead of reacting to their chaos, we can:
Stay calm – Don’t take their words or behavior personally. Their meltdown isn’t a reflection of you; it’s a cry for help in regulating their emotions.
Bring peace – Just as Jesus brought peace to the storm, we can bring peace to our child’s emotional turmoil. Our calm presence is more powerful than their storm.
Pray for wisdom – If you don’t know what to do in the moment, ask the Holy Spirit for guidance. Invite His peace into your heart so you can extend it to your child.
Ignore the storm’s distractions – Just as God doesn’t get offended by our frustrations, we shouldn’t take offense at what our child says in their meltdown. Their emotions are speaking, not their heart.
Wait for the right moment to teach – Once they are calm, then we can talk about what happened, help them understand their emotions, and teach self-regulation skills.
Creating an Atmosphere of Peace
When we show up with patience and peace, our children learn that they can come to us when they’re struggling instead of feeling ashamed of their emotions. We become their safe place, just as God is ours. This doesn’t mean we don’t set boundaries—it means we set them with love and wisdom, not frustration.
So the next time your child is caught in an emotional storm, remember: You don’t have to match their chaos. You have the power to be the calm. Because when peace enters the storm, the storm has no choice but to settle.
