Unable to get usual reaction from her, he calmed down and instantly became rational and more reasonable.

Case #2. Tom, 42, would become ballistic reacting to his 17 year old daughter who refused to see she was dating a “loser” boy. The more he yelled, deeper she dug her heels and refused to give up boy.

Applying anger management tool of “respond instead of react”, Tom decided to try something different by including boy into family activities (as much as he could stand). After about three weeks of this, daughter—on her own—decided her “prince-charming” wasn’t person she needed to enhance her life and ended relationship.

Learn to be flexible

Individuals who practice good health do not continue behavior that doesn’t achieve desired results. Instead, they adjust—or fine tune—their responses depending on situation.

There are many advantages to learning to be more flexible—and “response-able”— in dealing with stresses and frustrations in your life.

At top of list is a sense of empowerment. It just feels good to know that you are in charge of your responses, instead of being controlled by other people or circumstances.

Case # 3. Sixty-four year old Lynn left anger management class one night to find her apartment completely flooded due to a burst water pipe.

Adding to her stress, her insurance company initially refused to pay her claim. She later told us, “I decided to use tool you taught us of responding instead of reacting, so I cleaned up whole place myself. I can’t tell you how wonderful and liberating it felt to know that I didn’t have to get upset.

Later, calmer, she recontacted her insurance agent who, this time, agreed to honor her claim! Learn to respond differently.

However, there is something that really bothered me, they had numerous recordings of women that called saying that they believed they were unfit mothers because they get angry at their children and feel frustrated at times. Was I hearing right? Give me a break? Are moms not supposed to have feelings? Hmmm! Let me see,

•Once in a while when I am about to finish an article my one year old comes with cheesiest smile and turns off computer. If article is not saved I lose it completely.

•How about you are trying to think straight and you have a toddler screaming mommy, mommy, mommy, I want juice, a toy, food, etc.

• Have you ever finished cleaning and just when you think you can sit down your child spills something in floor?

•Or my all time favorite when ever I take my girls to a special place. I feel that I will be happy by just seeing them have a good time; and what they do? They spend whole time crying and bickering.

Think again! All these things bother me and I say it even if people nod their heads with disbelief and think “what a terrible mom”.

Moms are humans too you know, we have right to feel tired, angry, happy, excited etc. Unlike those 60’s shows were mom was always available and eager to please whole family with a big smile. You want to know what I think? There is no way that a person can focus on everyone else and never do anything to fulfill them selves and be content in life.

So, here is key to being a better mom?