Families - Try a "Meta-Moment"

When we're overwhelmed by emotions (which is likely to happen, especially right now), we're usually not at our best. We may scream, say hurtful things, or even cry. Trying to respond with a calm demeanor can only happen when we are in control of our emotions. When experiencing a strong emotion, it's difficult to reason or problem solve.

A "meta-moment," or a moment about a moment, is a strategy where you take a step back and pause during a particularly intense feeling of anger, frustration, disappointment, etc. Pausing to count, take a deep breath, or engage in self-talk ("what would the best version of myself?") allows us to de-escalate to find a better, wiser response to the situation.

Check out more information about meta-moments here: https://ideas.ted.com/feel-like-youre-about-to-lose-it-it-could-be-a-good-time-for-a-meta-moment/