The Witching Hour

What can moms and dads do to help their children be obedient and pleasing to be around during the hours of 6 to 8 p.m.? That’s a recent question submitted by a dad, who added that “we find that at the end of the day the children are wound up and tired, usually leading to lots of fussing, rough play, and disobedience. My wife and I are also tired at the end of the day and it would help if at that time everyone in the house was on their best behavior.”

I hate to break it to you but I highly doubt that you’re going to get “best behavior” from anyone in your household between the hours of 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.—including the parents! As you noted, you and your wife are tired, your kids are cranky, and things rapidly go from bad to worse in the blink of an eye.

However, that doesn’t mean there isn’t hope for a smoother evening! In this week’s video blog, I give practical tips for weathering what I call “the witching hour” into a more pleasant experience for all.