Viral Hair Tie Trick Helps Stressed-Out Parents Stay Sane

"If you find yourself being that 'Angry Mom,' try this!"

Calling all stressed-out parents trying to keep it together! This hair tie trick may be perfect for you.

On May 16, a mom named Shuana Harvey shared a technique that helped her “exercise patience with [her] oh so testy 4-year-old” on Facebook.

“I wore 5 rubber bands on my wrist from the time I got up, to the time I tucked him in just now. The 5 rubber bands represent every time you lose your cool or say something unkind to your child,” Harvey explained. “Every time that happens, you move one band to the other wrist. To ‘gain the band back,’ you must do 5 kind/positive things with your child (dance party, singing a song together, reading together, etc).”

The mom said she plans to use this hair tie trick until it becomes a second nature.

“I’ve found myself so incredibly stressed out, I beat my head against the wall daily because I don’t understand why my 4 year old insists on being disrespectful and a non listener,” she wrote. “I was to the point of crying at least every other day.”

After finishing the day with all five hair ties on the original wrist, Harvey said she felt proud of herself for keeping her cool. “I know it’s only day one, but I’m hopeful this will help our communication skills and our relationship,” she concluded. “If you find yourself being that ‘Angry Mom,’ try this!”

The Facebook post was shared over 11,500 times. Following the viral response, Harvey updated her post to note that she found this trick from blogger Kelly Holmes of “The (Reformed) Idealist Mom.”

In Holmes’ original blog post, “The Hair Tie Trick That Will Make You Go from Angry Mom to Happy Mom,” she shares her personal experience and also offers a “cheat sheet” for parents looking to implement her idea.

After seeing Harvey’s viral post spread throughout social media, the blogger wrote on Facebook, “Every time I see the original post featured somewhere new, I think of how many more parents and kids are feeling connected and having more FUN together because of this little trick.”

Before You Go

LOADINGERROR LOADING

Popular in the Community

Close

HuffPost Shopping’s Best Finds

MORE IN LIFE