At this point in time I realize that I need to establish my priorities and stick to them, or day is really going to spin out of control.

I sit down to sort myself out, and after a bit of time spent thinking, my wife comes back home and cheerfully asks me what I have accomplished so far today.

Upon hearing her question I suddenly feel beginning of a panic attack coming on. I missed getting garbage out in time, I still haven't written check for overdue bill, I haven't yet addressed envelope with pictures for my uncle, and of course I have yet to begin cleaning shed.

Soon day will be half over, and not only am I not making headway, but I am losing ground!

Recognizing emotional pain, I am in my daughter pulls me over to sit on couch and climbs up on my lap. "Daddy," she says, "Why don't you do what you told me to do other day when I was upset? " "Take three deep breaths..." "Look around you and notice that indeed world is NOT falling apart..." "And give thanks for all that you have, and all of people who love you!"

Better advice has never been given.

When you find your life spinning out of control, take time to breathe and feel into emotional experience you are creating. Regardless of task at hand, if you maintain a clear concept of who you are and what you are wanting to accomplish, you can stay on track and feel OK with all that transpires.

3. Reward negative behavior and thus reframe meaning of behavior. When you reward "bad" behavior, behavior is no longer bad. The parrot bites your right hand and you reward him by giving a snack with your left hand. The relationship is circular in nature. It doesn't take long before parrot loses his enthusiasm for biting you. He still very much wants snacks you feed him after each attack, but he would rather not have to do all of biting to get goodies.

4. Blur starting and stopping points, blur difference between good and bad. The parrot has been biting one hand and you have been nuzzling parrot and feeding him with your other hand. Now take hand that has been doing nuzzling and feeding and present it to parrot for biting. When parrot takes a playful nip, you nuzzle him with hand he was previously gnawing on.

When you encourage parrot to bite hand that feeds him! His confusion will be obvious.

5. Change reason for reward. After "break in" period you only give a snack when parrot is gentle and playful. Little by little you thus change reference behavior for getting snack. Usually at this stage, anyone that moves slowly can play with parrot with little concern about getting bitten.

I have found above method, to be by far fastest, easiest, and most humane way to tame a parrot, and calm down children that appear to have a violent streak.