Have you ever noticed that your kids are somehow nicer when you’re not around? Every Mom has probably noticed that. It’s almost a universal known thing that kids misbehave around their moms the most.
You’re not imagining it. Psychologists know that it happens and more importantly, they know why. It’s important that you know why, too. Speaking of what psychologists know about kids that can really help you as a parent, read our post about how and why you should recognize anxiety in children.
We spotted this article, “Study: Children Are 800% Worse When Their Mothers are in the Room” (a fake study). Even though you will quickly realize that this is all in fun and totally fake, we all know that their is a lot of truth to this!
Why Kids Misbehave Around Their Moms
Unless there is some sort of trouble at home, kiddos know with every fiber in their little bodies that home is a safe place.
Sure, they know that if they grab a pair of scissors and jump up and down on the sofa, they are definitely getting in trouble.
And yes, they understand that hitting a sibling is going to put them on Mom’s bad side.
But more than anything else, kids understand that home is their soft place to land. They know they can trust you.
They know you love them no matter what.
In a nutshell, that’s why kids misbehave around their moms.
When young children are at school, for example, they are using every part of their limited power over their impulses.
In other words, it takes a lot of self-control for them to be on the right side of the rules for so many hours.
Kids know what the world expects of them for the school day. They need to follow the rules. That’s their job. Follow those rules.
When they get home they are like a bottle of soda that’s been shaken until it’s going to pop. If you take that lid off too quickly, it’ll explode.
It’s not their fault. It’s a challenge for little brains to control their behavior for so long a time.
Then you show up. The person they trust. The person that will love them even when they’re not perfect.
They can finally breathe and relax. They can be who they are in that moment. Grumpy. Happy. Loud. Tired. Messy.
You’ll still love them – even if you get angry at them. They are certain of it.
Tip: You can help kids transition from being at school to being at home by giving them some time to be loud and to run around and exercise. It’s a release. It’s like taking off the lid of the soda bottle slowly.
Whether your child is perfect at school, or at daycare, or at a friend’s house and then they walk through your door as a loud, crazy kid monster, it’s all the same thing.
You can see that as an aggravation (which I know it is). Or you can take a deep breath and remember that because you’re a great Mom, your kids can be themselves with you.
So if your kids are nicer when you’re not around, remind yourself that it’s because you’re doing the whole Mom thing right.
You’ve taught your kids how to behave well in the world.
Even more importantly, you’ve taught them that you’re a loving Mom who will tuck them in bed and love them today, tomorrow and forever.
Nice going, Momma!
You may like this positive discipline book for toddlers for the days that they do act up around you. It’s very helpful!
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87 comments on “A New Study Shows That Kids Are The Most Misbehaved Around Their Moms”
Reading this Amazing article….nodding yes the whole way through…and at the end I’m trying hard to hold back the tears…..this really made sense and made me feel a little less Horrible….. Thank You to the great writer..Much Love to You and yours
Hi im a mom of three beautiful girls and they may drive me crazy but when they are around friends and family they know how to act i love my girls no matter what im a single mother
This is a very nice reinforcement of a back handed compliment to moms who wonder why their children act up at home, and not elsewhere. Do know, though, that mom is only capitalized when you are using it in place of her first name, as an example Mom/Christine. Mom does not always need to be capitalized. Do need to know that mom as the subject or noun in a sentence would not need capitalization. My career was as an elementary school teacher while doubling as a single mom with two daughters good as gold when out of my sight, but little rugrats at home.