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IMPULSE CONTROL

Updated: Sep 21, 2023


Impulsive control

Impulsive? Who me? No definitely not - I’m always calm and measured in my approach to everything. Except the Nutella jar…and the chips after the kids are in bed 👀. Yes sometimes I lose the plot when the linen cupboard has been assaulted for the fifth time in a week, or the toy corner looks like a rabid elf has rampaged through it. Ok. So I can be impulsive when I’m triggered. It’s the same for our kids - their triggers are a bit harder to pinpoint though. Why does my son walk past his sister and stand on her leg? He must know what is to come afterwards but he can’t seem to stop himself. Why did he scale the fence at kindy? To get his toy of course. The fact that the other side of the fence led to a very large drop onto a car park…didn’t register with him before OR after. His impulsiveness leads him into conflict and sometimes into serious danger.

As an adult, I am aware of my triggers, I feel remorse if I overreact, I wonder what the neighbours must think ***shout out to my fantastic neighbours who pretend not to hear 🤜 My kids do not necessarily understand their triggers, they don’t critically evaluate the situation after the fact, they don’t always question what they did and why. My kids live in the moment and in that moment they are upset, overstimulated and acting on their basest instincts. Sometimes that looks like smacking your sister in the face **we’ve all been there right? 👀. All we can do in these moments is model desired behaviour, exercise appropriate consequences and separate the children when things are at peak crazy.


We have recently entered a “looting” phase whereby the children awaken at a very early hour (it has a 4 in it) and indulge in the delights of the pantry. This translates to children COVERED in Nutella and peanut butter and a house decorated in little chocolates hand prints. We fitted a key lock to the pantry. They moved onto the fridge the next morning. We fitted a combination lock to the fridge. They could not control the impulse to get into the forbidden areas, no matter what the consequence, no matter how cross I got - it made no difference at all. They needed the option to be removed - not forever but for now. They needed the environment to change to help them succeed.


For now I can live with the house locked down a little bit - it saves my sanity - it saves my neighbours from hearing me yelling at 530am in the morning and it helps my kids break away from one impulse at least. That’s all I can do.


If you would like to have a chat about how Sunshine Family Support can help - or if you would just like to have a general chat - give me a call : 1300 56 52 52

Cheers

Kim


☕ Sunshine Family Support runs a fortnightly “Coffee + Connect” at She Shed 97 Aerodrome Road Maroochydore

Sunshine Family Support can help match a Support Worker to your family

Our Sensory Space run various workshops and parent/carer events


The Maleny Sitting Room hold regular events for parents and carers to connect and access information

Steps Autism Treehouse can provide links to the community and advice on services

Lifeline 13 11 14

Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636

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