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Surviving the Witching Hour

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The witching hour is not just for Halloween; it is a real event that occurs every evening in our homes, turning our well-behaved children into tyrants and causing massive meltdowns. Around 4:00, after a long day of work, school, play dates or errands, our bodies register, “I’m done!” Unfortunately, the day isn’t done, and neither is all the “stuff” we have to do.

This particular part of the day is also when our children need us most. Physically and emotionally drained, they often have a hard time dealing with it. While some of us would like to hide in our rooms for that hour or so, our responsibility is to transition our children through their breakdowns and create a calm for them. Here are a few tips to help you survive the witching hour and make your evenings a little smoother.

Try spending 10 minutes with them as soon as you walk in the door.

Let’s Be Realistic

A lot of parents, (myself included), hold themselves to high standards and unrealistic expectations, which causes a lot more stress and pressure than needed.

Rachel Waganer, Roeland Park, can relate. “I always feel like I need to have a home cooked meal on the table with a clean house and happy kids when my husband comes home from work, but it never happens,” she says.

Transition Time

We all need time to transition, especially our children, but we adults must make it a priority to find that time before the evening routine begins. Whether it’s after a long day at work or an active summer day of shuttling kids around, give yourself a moment to unwind before you take the evening on full force. Sit in your car or bathroom for five minutes. Opt to walk home from work or walk around the block with the kids. Take a few minutes to change out of your work clothes and sort through the mail or emails. By allowing yourself the opportunity to recharge, you are able to be in full mommy or daddy mode for the rest of the evening.

Start Earlier

Children usually get hungry way before the working parent arrives home. Try feeding them dinner earlier. That way Mom’s or Dad’s greeting when they get home will be from happy kids instead of grouchy ones. Still encourage your children to sit and talk with you while you and your spouse eat. “We let our son join us for dinner if he wants, but we don’t make him sit there and watch us eat. It can be an unpleasant experience for everyone,” says Kim Summers, Olathe. If giving up family dinners is not an option, try feeding your children a light high protein snack around 4:00. This will deter low blood sugar and crankiness until dinner is served.  You’ll find that by starting your nighttime routine earlier, you won’t feel so rushed and will find more opportunities to connect with your children.

Reconnect

A lot of times, after a busy day of errands or work, we tend to come home and want to dive right into dinner preparation or another chore. But all that children really want is to feel reconnected with you, especially if they haven’t seen you all day. It helps a great deal to know ahead of time that your children are going to need you for a lot of hands-on, interactive parenting during this time of the day. Try spending 10 minutes with them as soon as you walk in the door. This will help create a smooth transition into the evening and will help keep them from demanding your attention until you are able to give it to them.

Keep Them Busy

For this time, plan ahead some activities they can do, such as a craft or sensory play. Make a box that has specific toys or activities that are readily available for you to pull out during the early evening. “I recorded myself reading stories to my kids and turn that on when I’m preparing dinner,” says Julia Alexander, Overland Park. If children are old enough, encourage their help while you’re making dinner, either by setting the table, measuring ingredients or tossing a salad. 

Encourage Witching Hour Play

Jennifer Duxbury is a SAHM from Olathe who is still trying to fine-tune her nightly routine in hopes of beating the witching hour.

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