Are the “Sunday Scaries” ruining your weekends? As a parent myself, I know a crying, flopping, venting, whining, anxious and/or depressed kiddo will wear everyone down and make the simplest tasks feel impossibly overwhelming. The data say this is very real, and we know it is hard, hard, hard!
Oh, what to do, what to do?
Whenever possible, I like to block off at least an hour of special one-on-one time on Sunday evenings. Yes, part of me would love to focus on an ever growing pile of laundry, but I devote the time to focus on my most anxious child. That time pays dividends and saves me in the long run.
In my house, we typically start with silly games. Our current favorite is “Shoot the Poop.” Yes, shooting fake poop at a plastic talking toilet might seem disgusting, but it’s a great distraction from life’s problems for your child. And guess what? Finding my inner child feels pretty fantastic too. After that, we’ll do some word searches, puzzles or read jokes while snuggling on the couch. Usually, my highly sensitive child says that she’s feeling better after a while. This isn’t the time for a highly competitive game of chess and heavy conversion. It’s just a way of calming down an overwhelmed body and mind.
Wile Sunday Scaries are a great time to work on mindfulness and relaxation, we’re also using the time to focus on healthy attachment and co-regulation which is great for the child AND the parent. We need to model listening to our bodies and accepting that not everything is going to get done perfectly. Work will always be there, and our health and wellness have to come first.
Why not give it a try and see what happens?!
Wishing you less scary, fun Sundays!
Shannon Obed, MSW, LSW
Child Psychotherapist
Child Therapy Chicago
