Nurturing Emotional Growth: Tantrums and Big Feelings From an 8-year old.

Hello MindFull Readers,

Children entering their pre-teen phase often express their strong emotions in articulate ways, sometimes accompanied by physical outbursts. I'm not suggesting that all children will react in this manner, but let me share a recent story about my 8 almost 9-year-old daughter and her struggle with frustration.

It was mid-afternoon when our helper instructed Big A (my eldest daughter) to take a shower. Big A raised her voice, exclaiming, “How am I supposed to take a shower when my sister is in the bathroom?!” Our helper calmly explained that her sister would finish soon and suggested that Big A could prepare her clothes in the meantime. Shortly thereafter, the bathroom became available, and Big A stomped off angrily, slamming the door behind her.

Moments later...

Big A emerged from the bathroom, her wet hair wrapped in a towel, and proceeded to put away her dirty laundry. After a brief pause, she quietly approached the kitchen where our helper was tidying up and said, “Auntie, I am sorry for yelling at you and slamming the door. I know that was not nice of me, and I won’t do it again. I’ll try to react better next time.” Our helper graciously accepted Big A's apology and encouraged her to recount the incident to me, which she did.

Reflecting on this incident, it reminded me of my own moments when I've been emotionally short-fused, letting anger overpower me. However, I always take time to reflect afterward, considering whether my reaction was appropriate. It's become a habit for me to be the first to apologize if I've crossed a boundary, and I make sure to discuss with my children how we can be more mindful in the future.

This teaches our young ones that adults aren’t infallible; we make mistakes too, and there's no shame in acknowledging them. Whether you're a parent, a teacher, or someone frequently surrounded by children, it's important to recognize that these little people experience big feelings. Validating their emotions nurtures their journey toward becoming well-balanced adults.

Just remember, these little people have big feelings, and acknowledging them helps them grow into emotionally healthy adults.

If you'd like to set up a free, 30-minute, no obligation, discovery call with me to explore whether I am the right Reparenting Life Coach for you then please don't hesitate to book a slot at this link https://calendly.com/michelle-lim-tmp/discovery-call.

With warmth and mindfulness,

Michelle Lim | Founder of The MindFull Parent | Reparenting Life Coach

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