Being there for your kids - Take a Chill Pill

Starting point is 00:00:04 I'm Dr. John Robinson, and this is Teachable Moments. Have you ever been so frantic that you really needed to take a chill pill? Well, I have one for you. In a world of constant motion, with things coming at you from all directions, it has become both art and skill to learn just how to chill. My friends at Compendium Incorporated wrote a brief collection of phrases called Positivity, Take a Moment to Nurture Yourself, published in 2011. They defined positivity as the feeling.

Starting point is 00:00:34 of joy and optimism that comes when you stop to take a moment to restore and nurture yourself. In today's vernacular, this is your encouragement to just chill. Hey, Bobby, I started with my new patient as I ushered him into my playroom. At 10 years old, Bobby seemed to be in constant motion. His mom had told me that his pediatrician had prescribed medication to treat his hyperactivity, but she wanted her son to acquire some coping skills to supplement the medication. "'Aren't you just a ball of energy?' I commented as he checked out the toys and games in the room. "'Yep,' he acknowledged, as he sat at the game table and looked at the chest set.

Starting point is 00:01:12 Even when sitting still, his motor cranked up with foot tapping and leg jiggling. I sat opposite him. "'Okay, buddy, how about I help you harness some of that random energy?' "'What do you mean?' he puzzled, beginning to move the chest pieces randomly. "'Well, when you're just on the go-go-go, go, sometimes you find trouble, huh?' Yeah, he cocked his head and paused. Mom ratted me out, didn't she? Yep, busted, I affirmed.

Starting point is 00:01:37 You know, if you want, I can help you stay out of trouble and still have fun. Want to try? With Bobby's hesitant buy-in, I taught him relaxation, deeper breathing techniques. As he practiced, I saw that he stopped tapping and jiggling. He told me that that was rad, man. Then I brought out my copy of the positivity book and directed him to two entries. We talked about some of his storms, troubling behavior, and I shared the following. One of the best things you can do when the world is storming around you is to pause.

Starting point is 00:02:09 Bobby got it. He spontaneously took a deep, cleansing breath. I then shared another of the book's entries. Tension is who you think you should be. Relaxation is who you are. Bobby didn't get that one, but he was curious. I asked him to ball up his fists and put as much energy into it as possible. He did so, even as his face reddened.

Starting point is 00:02:30 tension. I then asked him to unball his fists and let his arms and hands be loose. He wiggled his fingers and shook his hands smiling at me. Relaxation. We read more of the entries in the positivity book as our session ended. I encouraged him to practice his deeper breathing and to teach it to his mom. I gave him two index cards with each of the highlighted entries for him to post on his pegboard in his bedroom for him to read each night before getting ready for bed. Read more of Bobby's story in my new book, The Healing Journey, Overcoming Adversity on the Path to the Good Life, and buy your copy at amazonbooks.com. If my comments, stir questions of your own, contact me through my website at www.

Starting point is 00:03:13 Thereformykits.com or email me at John Robinson, 00 at bell-south.net. I'm Dr. Jonathan C. Robinson, licensed clinical psychologist and author of Teachable Moments Building Blocks of Christian Parenting, and my new book, the healing journey, overcoming adversity on the path of the good life. Blessings, Dr. John. Teachable Moments, Building Blocks of Christian Parenting, is available online at AmazonBooks.com and in local and national bookstores. More on Dr. Robinson at TMC-P-I-N-C.com.

Being there for your kids - Take a Chill Pill

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