114 HAWAII PARENT January/February 2026 Think of something you are grateful for, right at the moment. Better yet, say it. Out loud. You can shift those feelings of stress and a lack of control just by being grateful. The easiest one that works every time? “I’m grateful for you.” Not only will it change your mood, but it will change your child’s mood. The day will be looking better already. Another one I love (because it also lets me expend all that IMUST-rant-now energy): “Boy, this morning is rough and we’re all being such goofballs. But am I glad I have you goofballs to share the morning with. What a sad, sad thing it would be to be a goofball and be all alone on top of it all. I do so love my family of goofballs. […]” around the house. We have 86,400 seconds in a day. Surely we can spare 30. If you feel up for it, do a few deep belly breaths together. Or get everyone to do a 30-second wiggle to shake the harried feeling out. Once they get past the shock of actually stopping the frantic rush to beat the clock and start doing something fun instead, they will likely start giggling. Laughter releases stress, and you will all be in better shape to take your morning back. Anything that will let you create a pause in the frantic downhill slide of the morning and turn it around into a playful, happy one again is game. 6. Be Grateful. It may sound cliché, and it may be the last thing you’d think of doing, but that’s part of why it works. “Think of something you are grateful for, right at the moment.” Mornings feel different when we choose connection first.
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