Page 14 - How Changing Your Anger Can Help You Be a Better Parent book

If your total on the above table adds up to 26 - 35, you are well aware of the impact of the
emotional angry moment has on you. You realize that your anger has the potential to overwhelm
your thought process and you may be somewhat intentional about not letting your emotions cause
you to say or do something you don’t want to say or do. You could still use some new tools to
meet your child’s needs in various angry situations.

Controlling your angry actions
1 - Not able, have not yet been able

2 - Slightly able, sometimes can
3 - Able, not as consistent

4 - Very able, can most of the time
5 - Extremely able, can almost all the time

How able are you…

... to feel angry without acting on it right away?

… to think about your options before acting when angry?

… to know to be calm before you speak or act when angry?

… to know that the way you show your anger is your choice?

… to know how to calm your child before trying to correct behavior?

… to know how to be assertive, rather than aggressive when angry?

… to know how to be confident in how you respond when angry?

If your total on the above table adds up to 15 or less, then it sounds like your angry thinking and
distorted angry thoughts may be hijacking your clear-thinking and decision making. Your angry
thoughts seem to be controlling your actions and confusing you on your power in the angry
situation. Your emotional response to your child may be exacerbating the dysregulating anger.
You can benefit from understanding and learning new tools to change the way you think, not
allowing the distorted thoughts to cloud your decision making.

If your total on the above table adds up to 16 - 25, you understand that your anger is your choice
and how you choose to express your anger will have its impact on you and your child. Knowing

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