"Calm DOWN!" I screamed

Last week after a particularly rambunctious game of “That’s Enough TV for the Day” I suggested to my twin 4-year-olds that we go to their room to create a Calming Corner for each of them. A space where they can sit and relax with some of their favorite books, toys and blankets. A place of comfort, perhaps some breath work.

What happened next had me questioning everything I've ever known about breathing, calming and corners.

Here are a few select quotes that came out of the experience. I encourage you to read them as if you are being punished for a terrific idea.

Emma: “Mama, I want mine next to my bed.” (There’s not really enough room next to your bed.) I NEED it next to my bed!! Freddie has his next to his bed and I need mine next to my bed!”

Freddie: “I need all my books.” (Can you pick one or two?) “ONE OR TWO?! No!! I need twenty hundred!”

Both: “I need the blue blanket. No, I need the blue blanket! No, I need the blue blanket! No, I need the blue blanket! No, I need the blue blanket! No, mama, I need the blue blanket! MAMA! I NEED THE BLUE BLANKET!” And so on.

Freddie: (Here I paraphrase) “I need 3 trains, the loudest ones in the house. That will make me feel the most calm. They have to be loud, pretty big and battery operated. Preferably they’ll go on and off in the middle of the night. Best case scenario they run out of battery at the exact time I need the most amount of calming.”

Emma: “I really need your comforter.” (Sorry, my comforter?) “Yes.” (From my bed?) “YES! UGH!”

I would estimate that the chaos of creating a calming corner lasted a good thirty minutes, at which point I had to retreat to my own calming corner. My calming corner is located just outside the door of a men’s restroom inside an undisclosed 7-11, because I know for certain no one would think to look for me there.

If you or your children need to calm down, Wooby & Fotty have a doozy for you today. It’s a brand new episode called “The Great Calm Down.” You will find a song about feeling calm, you will hear soothing sounds from the violin of a wonderful LA Philharmonic violinist and you will experience a brief meditation.

Please tell everyone you know to take a look and subscribe to our channel, unless you don’t know anyone who needs to calm down, which I know you do.

I think I’m doing great.

Love,

Lauren