Getting help for problem children can be an enormous task. Living with a difficult child is emotionally and physically draining. It\’s no surprise that most parents dealing with problem children quickly feel they have exhausted their resources.

When this happens, no one wins. The out of control child rages on and the parents drift deeper into hopelessness.

You can stop this downward spiral, however. Taking back control of your home is vital and it starts with getting help for yourself first, Mom or Dad.

– Find a parenting mentor.

You will be amazed at the load that can be lifted from your shoulders when you partner with another parent. Make sure it\’s someone whose parenting style you respect and whose values align with your own.

Just being able to share honestly with another human being is immensely helpful. If you cannot find another parent, consider a family counselor or your clergy. A parent support group is another great option. Don\’t be shy; start your own parenting group if necessary.

– Take care of yourself physically.

If you are eating poorly, never exercising and not sleeping, how can you possibly expect to stay two steps ahead of a problem child?

Get real. Food, exercise and sleep are not luxuries; they\’re necessities. Daily prayer is also a very real way to unload your daily burdens and can affect how you feel physically. A daily walk or swim or just dancing to the radio will help with both your energy level and your ability to sleep. Keep a simple food log for a week – there are lots of free ones online – and you\’ll see exactly what you are and are not eating.

Buddy up with another mom or dad to make these changes and you\’ll find them easier to work into. You will also be taking control of a big chunk of your life and doing so will have an uplifting effect on you.

– Get trained.

Getting help for a problem child means you need a strategic plan. What will you do when he back talks the next time? How will you react when she refuses to obey – again?

You don\’t have to leave these episodes to chance. You can do some parenting research and find enormously helpful parenting resources, books, classes and forums that can help you formulate new ways to speak and behave when your problem child acts out.

Prepping yourself in this way is tremendously important as a parent\’s reaction is often a large part of what is fueling a problem child\’s acting out. Changing your behavior or words, Mom or Dad, is often enough to break a pattern of behavior and introduce new ways of interacting between you and your child.

Don\’t be afraid to objectively experiment with different parenting ideas. Just the act of initiating change on your part and seeing your child react differently can be life changing for both of you. Then you will know that you do have influence and you can make changes! From there on it will be up to your child to make some choices of his own, with your guidance.

Looking for help for difficult children? Start with helping yourself be the best parent you can be. It will lighten your load and give you a new perspective on your child which is exactly what you need in order to make a real difference for you and your child.

Author Bio: Is your child dishing out too much drama? Let Colleen Langenfeld show you proven tips on parenting you can use right now at http://www.paintedgold.com . Get a free behavior log plus more key strategies of getting help with problem children starting today.

Category: Parenting
Keywords: help with problem children,help for problem children,help with difficult children