If you’re a parent of little ones, you probably know exactly what I mean when I say the witching hour. For us, it usually hits around 4:00 p.m. Most of the time, I don’t need to look at the clock to know what time it is. The kids are tired, I’m running low on energy, dinner probably still needs to be made unless I was on top of it and prepped earlier in the day, depends on the day!

I’ve learned that instead of trying to power through the chaos, here are four things that almost always help us change the direction of our evening.

1. Get Outside

If the weather cooperates, we head outside. Whether it’s a walk around the neighborhood, riding bikes, playing in the backyard, or simply getting some fresh air, being outside even for a few minutes seems to help everyone’s mood including mine.

2. Turn on Some Music and Have a Dance Party!

When going outside isn’t an option, music is one of my favorite resets. We turn on a fun playlist, dance around the living room, and be silly. Gracie’s Corner is a fun kids playlist on Spotify that has a lot of upbeat music, that is usually our go to!

3. Water

Sometimes it’s setting up the water table, the sprinkler, or the splash pad. If the weather keeps us from going outside, sometimes it’s getting everyone in the bath tub at 4:00pm to play! Water seems to have a way of calming everyone down making for a nice reset.

4. Give Yourself Permission to Pause

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that it’s okay if dinner is 20 minutes late. When I stop trying to rush through the chaos and instead focus on reconnecting with my kids, involving them in the cooking process (age dependent) or getting on the floor to do a quick activity, and our entire evening usually goes more smoothly.

A Gentle Reminder

If your afternoons feel hard, you’re not doing anything wrong. Little kids have been going all day too, and by late afternoon they’re often tired, hungry, and in need of connection just like we are. There are probably going to be some tantrums and meltdowns and that is okay, expect it. If we can recognize the storm is coming before it happens, sometimes that can make all the difference in the outcome of the rest of the evening.

A little fresh air, music, water, or practicing the pause sometimes all it takes to turn a difficult afternoon into a much more peaceful evening.

I’d love to hear from you! Do you have any other tips for the witching hour? Share it in the comments so we can all learn from one another.

With Gratitude,
Angie
Moved by Motherhood