Talking it Out

From the beginning I have tried very hard to work with my children on how to appropriately express themselves. It's a hard thing to be able to identify your feelings, figure out where they come from, and then how to express them. So many people either just stuff their feelings or express them in inappropriate ways that I want to help them develop those skills.... as I struggle with them myself.

This doesn't always go well. There has been yelling, "I AM SO MAD AT YOU!" There has been crying, "No one likes me anymore..." There has been hitting. There has been silence.

Today the youngest Bures proved that you are never too young to tell someone how you feel. I was cleaning and he began to complain that he didn't want me to take away his plate. I snapped a little and said, "Grant please do not yell at me today," and walked into the kitchen.

He walked into the kitchen and calmly said to me, "I didn't yell at you mom."

"You're right. You didn't really yell. I'm sorry I snapped at you."

"It's ok mom. I love you."

"I love you too Grant. Thank you."

"Mom I think I need a little space."

Fair enough little one. Thank you for teaching me something today.