Lately I have been doing a lot of thinking about my own authenticity. As a parent, I had gotten on this merry-go-round ride of “what is right?” and I was constantly trying to seek out the right answer so that I could make the “right decision.” Then around and around I’d go with this process everyday about every parenting decision I thought was significant. Boy, is that process exhausting!

When your child is feeling sad, anxious or angry, being in a safe place is the first step to helping your child regulate their feelings. If they feel safe, then they can focus their attention on managing their current emotional distress.

Days with your children can feel like an emotional roller coaster with highs of laughing and giggling to lows of tantrums and crying. These highs and lows can happen within a span of minutes. Emotions are part of the human experience. As parents we have an opportunity to be a role model for healthy emotional expression and regulation, and guiding our kids when they’re experiencing strong emotions.