Right now the Jonas Family is even busier than usual.  We’re entering kidding season (which means less sleep for everyone), we’re building at the new property (which means more traveling to check on progress), and we’re losing our employee (which means more work for all).

This can cause everyone to be more stressed and less patient than normal.  When I don’t get enough sleep, I can get pretty cranky.  I have to be very careful not to take my fatigue out on the rest of the family.  When I pass my personal tipping point, I stop speaking kindly and start yelling.

Fortunately, I know when my personal tipping point is coming and I’ve found a pretty effective way of avoiding it.

Want to know my secret?

It’s very simple actually.  It’s dancing.

We love music at the Jonas household.  All kinds of music.  We love our show tunes and our country songs and our gospel hymns and our Christian contemporary and our classic rock and even some pop songs.

Jim recently downloaded a bunch of Frank Sinatra songs for me (love Frank – grew up listening to him with my Dad).  But you know what?  Frank isn’t very good dancing music.  At least not “get down in the living room” music.

For that, we put on much more upbeat songs.  Some of our favorites are “Life is a Highway” and “I’m a Believer”.  Recently we’ve been listening to “Dynamite” – the acapella version that Mike Tompkins performs.

So, if we’re all melting down (but especially if I’m the one melting down), I put on a song and we start to dance.  Really dance.  I make everybody get involved.  The grumpy ones usually resist, but we all have to dance anyway.  And we go for it.

If the song ends and we’re still grumpy and out of sorts…

We put the song on again!

It’s really difficult to dance to a fun upbeat song and stay grumpy.  I’m sure some people out there could do it, but not me.  I always end in a much better frame of mind.  Plus it’s a really great cardio workout.

Double bonus!!

I started dancing with my children when they were really little and have continued it.  It’s lots of fun and a great stress reliever.

Here is a video.  The older boys were out milking (which is why they’re not in the video), and Jim came inside half way during the song,  which is why I joined.  So yes, you get to see me dancing (don’t expect much LOL).

So the next time you or your children are not having a very good day – put on a song and rock out to it!!   It will lighten everyone’s mood and hopefully reverse any bad attitudes!

Do you ever dance when your stressed?  I’d love to hear about it and if you have any songs to recommend!