Parents Who Lose Patience with Their Children

Some parents lose patience with their children for many different reasons. Any situations that decrease a person's resting time usually increase their irritability and emotional instability.
Parents Who Lose Patience with Their Children

Last update: 04 June, 2021

Parents often lose patience with their children, which can be really harmful to the little ones. It’s true that most of them don’t do it on purpose because they truly love their children and only want what’s best for them. Unfortunately, one doesn’t exclude the other. Especially when you become a parent without having resolved some of your own emotional problems. Also, when you lack adequate strategies to circumvent their upbringing.

It’s common for lack of patience with children to lead to unfair behaviors that parents later regret. Thus, it creates confusion in their children and, as strange as it may seem, often stimulates the very behaviors that are most intolerable to these parents.

This mainly happens with younger children, although it’s also often present with teenagers. What triggers this lack of patience with children? How can one resolve it? Continue reading to find out!

“Instead of treating your child like how you were treated. Treat them with the same love and attention you wanted from your parents while growing up.”

-Jonathan Anthony Burkett-

A woman overwhelmed with her children.

What’s losing patience with children about?

In short, this lack of patience with children indicates latent anger, either towards them or what they represent. In other words, impatience is a manifestation of something deeper and generates a state of discontent, frustration, and discomfort.

The reasons for this lack of patience are:

  • Lack of clarity in the distribution of roles to fulfill. It occurs when a person becomes a parent without being aware of what it actually entitles. Most people think it comes naturally. Thus, there’s nothing to prepare for beforehand. They’re wrong.
  • Parenting is an obstacle to the realization of individual goals. Often, a person would like to do things they can’t do because they have to parent. Thus, they begin to consider it a burden.
  • The relationship with the other parent isn’t good and children, by no fault of their own, are often a source of conflict between them. To that extent, a parent or both may end up thinking of them as an obstacle to the enjoyment of their romance.
  • People raised by abusive parents who disregarded them in many ways tend to repeat such patterns if they haven’t dealt with them and healed.
  • There are problems with impulse control so there are times when the problem is there’s no understanding and control over one’s emotions. This doesn’t only manifest as impatience with one’s own children but in everyday life.
  • A parent may unconsciously reject a child. It doesn’t mean they’re monsters, it’s just that they haven’t entirely accepted their motherhood or fatherhood for some reason. Many of them truly love their little ones.

Why do people lose their patience?

The lack of patience with children is a symptom and must be seen as such. This means it isn’t the issue to resolve isn’t this, mainly what’s behind it. Identifying the cause(s) implies having to reflect and be honest with oneself.

A good starting point is to begin by thinking about the reasons that motivated the parents to be so. It isn’t always the result of a plan and it doesn’t always happen at the most appropriate time. As you can see, this can be the origin of intolerance to that person who exists and demands a place in the life of their parents.

It’s also important to reflect on the state of the parental relationship and on their emerging patterns. Where do these come from? What’s their basis? Do they really work?

A man and a boy yelling at each other.

Tips to control yourself when you’re about to lose patience

Self-introspection is important because it’s the only way to get to the bottom of this anger. However, you must consider some measures to moderate your lack of patience with your children in the meantime.

Try the following when you feel you’re about to lose it:

  • Don’t talk or act when you’re angry as it only leads you to make mistakes. Thus, it’s better to count to ten than doing or saying something mean.
  • It’s important to accept that there’ll hardly be moments in which you have total control of the situation during the upbringing of your children. This is because many realities won’t satisfy expectations, so deal with it and skip the drama.
  • Ask for help if you perceive parenting as a burden that overflows your energy. Talk to your partner, friends, or an outsider.
  • Observe and be aware of the times and reasons that trigger your anger along with the child’s behavior in this regard.

Finally, it’s important to talk to your spouse and agree on the guidelines for raising your children and the distribution of tasks. You must also learn some strategies for the proper raising of children.


All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.


  • Elias, M. J. (2014). Educar con inteligencia emocional: Cómo conseguir que nuestros hijos hijos sean sociables, felices y responsables. DEBOLS! LLO.


This text is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace consultation with a professional. If in doubt, consult your specialist.