Hearing your child say they hate you for the first time can knock the most hardened of mums to their core, but it’s important not to take it personally and never overreact. Mums need to understand that a child can’t hide their feelings nor can they control them.
When faced with this type of situation it’s important to stay calm and not retaliate by saying hurtful things back or shouting at them. Explain to them that using ‘I'm angry’ or ‘I'm disappointed’ are better alternatives to saying ‘I hate you.’
Always keep your verbal response direct and use sentences like ‘I’m sorry you feel that way, but you are sill responsible for cleaning your room' or ‘talking to me that way isn’t going to get you out of doing your homework’. This way, not only are you effectively showing that hurtful words won’t solve their problem, you are also reminding them of the task at hand.
Though you may be tempted to, avoid responding to your child's ‘I hate you’ with ‘Well, I love you’ and don’t give long-term punishments as they won’t teach your kid to take control of their own emotions.
Remember to always end an argument or temper tantrum by telling your little one that you love them and that you are always there for them no matter what they may say.
