Sanity Snack: How To Stop Kids From Hitting

For what feels like a year, my 2-year-old’s go-to move at home was hitting. Never at school (thank goodness) but ALL THE TIME at home with her sister. We’ve been on repeat with the same message for months: It’s ok to feel mad. It’s not ok to hit. Use your words to say “I feel mad”.

Six months later, we finally got a breakthrough. Instead of hitting, she screamed: “I feel mad!” Was it loud? Yes. Did it stop the physical violence? Also yes. And it happened multiple times for days. PARENTING WIN!

It reminded me of introducing new foods in the lunchbox. You try, and try, and try, and for weeks it feels like nothing is working. Then suddenly… progress.

Parenting lessons take time. Sometimes months of persistence before you see even a flicker of change. But when it comes, it feels like light at the end of the tunnel. My kids still fight daily, but the hitting is finally starting to fade.

Don’t give up, mamas. The work you’re putting in will pay off… eventually.

Let’s not lose our minds together,

Tori