“The Morning I Got Too Angry” explained in 4 pictures

That morning, I felt like I had very little room to breathe right from the start. We woke up late, and breakfast, getting dressed—everything was running just a little behind. Beside me, as I kept saying, “Please hurry,” my child was somehow opening a picture book while holding just one sock. It was something that happened all the time, but that day, I couldn’t take it the way I usually did.

🤔 On busy mornings, do you ever find yourself getting more irritated than necessary by your child’s little detours?

Of course, it was when we were in a hurry that the cup of milk tipped over. The moment I saw the white line spreading across the table, I blurted out in a loud voice. “That’s why I told you!” After I finished saying it, I saw my child’s face suddenly freeze, and something deep in my chest went cold.

By the time we arrived at preschool, my child was a little quieter than usual. Even though they gave me a small wave when we parted, I kept remembering that face all day long. Between tasks at work, even while doing chores at home, only my own voice from that morning echoed over and over in my head. I didn’t want to get angry. I didn’t want to make a scary face, either. The more I thought that, the more the guilt grew.

🤔 After getting angry, have you ever been unable to forget the look on your child’s face?

That night, before getting into bed, I sat down beside my child. When I said, “I’m sorry I used such a loud voice this morning. It surprised you, didn’t it?” my child thought for a moment and then nodded. Then, in a small voice, they said, “I didn’t spill the milk on purpose.” Hearing those words, I realized there was something I could have listened to before getting angry. I may not be able to be a perfect parent, but I can say things again. That was what I thought that night.

🤔 After apologizing to your child, have you ever felt the atmosphere between you soften just a little?