Every child knows the exact buttons to push with their parents. They know what makes you upset. Sometimes they don't hesitate to use that knowledge. Every parent gets angry. If you're sitting there thinking "not me," get real, stop being so righteous, and realize that you have at some point been angry with something your child did.

What parents need to realize is that anger is a human emotion. It happens. If you haven't experienced it yet - you will! I guarantee it. Why? Because you are human. You don't need to feel guilty because you get angry, but you do need to know that how you handle that anger is important.

No matter how much you love your children, you will experience anger. Learning to handle it is imperative. Here are some tips for dealing with anger that are important for parents.

Tip #1 - Exit Stage Right… - Sometimes the best way to deal with your anger is to exit. Take a breather before confronting your child. As a parent myself, there have been times I walked away because I was angry and I needed to get a better perspective on the situation before I responded.

Addressing your child when you are angry is not the best option. When you are angry, you may say things that are not wise or you may even be angry at the wrong thing. If you feel angry, take a breather, figure out why you are really angry, get perspective on the problem, and then go back and deal with it.

Tip #2 - Don't Use Anger to Bring up History - With kids it's best to focus on the present situation. When you are angry with your child, often it is because there have been a series of an events that have occurred in the past weeks to bring you to this point. However, even though you are upset about the last few weeks of behavior with your child, it is best to address the current situation, especially with smaller children. Chances are they don't even remember what happened a few weeks ago. Let go of the anger and address the current situation.

Tip #3 - Get to the Point - When you're angry, it's easy to drone on to your child about what they have done and how upset you are. After about 5 minutes there's a good chance your child is going to turn you off. Try to keep it short, get right to the point, and make sure the important issues are addressed. This way you avoid making your kids go "parent deaf."

Tip #4 - Figure Out What REALLY Matters - Sometimes as a parent, you need to choose your battles. Make sure that you choose the ones that really matter. Don't just pick a battle because you are angry. Make sure that you focus on the important matters and allow the small things to go.

Tip #5 - Let Your Kids Know You Love Them - Once you have dealt with your anger, make sure that you let your kids know that you love them. Handling your anger appropriately teaches your child an important lesson. Letting them know you love them even when they do things that make you upset also teaches them an important lesson - the lesson that you'll always love them. This is an important lesson for them to learn.

Anger is going to occur. It is a human emotion. You are only responsible for how you handle and deal with this emotion. Keep these tips in mind when you are angry with your children, especially the last one - loving them.