How do I remind myself not to take interruptions personally? 

Parenting Perspective 

When your child interrupts you, it can feel like a personal slight, especially when you are tired or trying to finish an important task. It is easy to feel as though your focus or authority is being dismissed. However, a child’s interruptions are rarely about disrespect. They are often the result of an emotional overflow, whether from excitement, urgency, or a fear of being forgotten. It is helpful to separate the behaviour from your own sense of worth. Your child is not rejecting you; they are simply still learning impulse control. 

Understand the Real Meaning of an Interruption 

Children interrupt because they live in the present moment. Their thoughts and feelings seem immediate and fleeting, and when they cut in, they are often just saying, ‘Please see me before my thought disappears.’ Reminding yourself that this is a sign of their development, not defiance, can help to reframe the moment. A simple internal reminder, such as, ‘They are still learning, not attacking me,’ can replace irritation with insight. 

Separate the Emotion from the Intention 

Your child’s interruption is not a comment on your importance, but a sign of their immaturity. Take a brief pause before you react, giving yourself a moment between their action and your response. During that breath, you can think, ‘This is not about me. It is about their need to feel heard.’ This small mental habit can transform the energy of the moment, allowing you to respond from a place of empathy rather than ego. 

Model What a Calm Response Looks Like 

When interruptions happen, your tone becomes the lesson. A sharp response teaches your child that speaking up invites tension, whereas a steady one shows them that calmness brings clarity. You might say gently, ‘I hear that you want to say something. I will finish what I am doing, and then it will be your turn.’ The words are simple, but the calm tone is powerful. You are showing them how to manage their urges without feeling ashamed. 

Reframe Interruptions as Opportunities for Growth 

Every interruption can be seen as a practice in patience and humility. When your child cuts in, you can view it as a gentle test of your own self-control, an opportunity to demonstrate the very qualities you want them to learn. You could silently remind yourself, ‘They are learning self-control, and I am learning to be gentle.’ This mindset helps to transform a feeling of irritation into one of spiritual growth. 

Use Reflection to Build Self-Awareness 

At the end of the day, you can reflect briefly on how you handled the interruptions you faced. Ask yourself, ‘Did I react with frustration or with understanding?’ When you notice your own progress, you can thank Allah Almighty for granting you the patience to hold back. Self-awareness nurtures emotional discipline, and every moment of reflection plants the seed of future calm. 

Spiritual Insight 

Patience with interruptions is a form of sabr that reveals a true inner strength. In Islam, controlling one’s anger and choosing to be gentle are signs of a deep spiritual maturity. When you remind yourself not to take your child’s interruptions personally, you are practising humility, recognising that teaching, not control, is the essence of parenting. 

Restraint and Perspective in the Noble Quran 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Aalai Imran (3), Verse 134: 

‘Those (the believers are the ones) that spend (in the way of Allah Almighty) in times of abundance and hardship; they suppress their anger; and are forgiving to people; and Allah (Almighty) loves those who are benevolent.’ 

This verse reminds us that responding with forgiveness and calm brings us closer to the divine love of Allah. When you choose not to take your child’s behaviour personally, you are embodying ihsan: doing good even when your own emotions are provoked. 

Resisting Anger with the Prophetic Example 

It is recorded in Al Adab Al Mufrad, Hadith 245, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘When one of you becomes angry, let him be silent.’ 

This hadith is a timeless reminder that silence is strength. When you feel interrupted or provoked, choosing a moment of stillness allows your emotions to settle before your words are formed. It teaches that protecting your own peace by pausing is far more powerful than reacting from a wounded ego. Through that silence, you can reclaim your calmness and invite help from the Divine. 

Every interruption becomes a mirror for growth, for both you and your child. Each time you choose understanding over taking offence, you are nurturing both emotional intelligence and spiritual grace. In those moments of tension, remind yourself that parenting is not about being uninterrupted, but about remaining unshaken. When you stay steady, your child sees that calmness is not just a reaction, but a reflection of a deep faith in Allah Almighty, who rewards patience in both silence and speech.