Sarah

“Here’s something I start saying to my kids early on: “Did you know that learning is hard? I mean it! Every single time any of us learns something—me, you, everyone—it feels frustrating!” If my child seems to be taking in what I’m saying, I’ll continue: “And also, listen to this, because this is weird . . . Frustration, that feeling of ‘Ugh, I can’t do it’ or ‘Ugh, I want to just be done already!’ . . . that’s a feeling that tries to trick our brain into telling us we’re doing something wrong, but actually, this feeling is a sign that we’re learning and doing something right! It’s such a tricky thing. Let’s be on the lookout for that feeling so we can remind ourselves we are learning and that learning is supposed to feel this way.”
― Becky Kennedy, Good Inside: A Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want to Be

“Parents are often told to “name the feeling” when our children are upset (“You are so mad!” or “You’re feeling sad, I know”). This can be useful when we are trying to connect with our kids in “regular” moments, but in moments of big tantrums, I find that validating the magnitude of the feeling is much more effective.”
― Becky Kennedy, Good Inside: A Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want to Be

“A child’s job in a family system is to explore and learn, through experiencing and expressing their emotions and wants.”
― Becky Kennedy, Good Inside: A Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want to Be

“many parents see behavior as the measure of who our kids are, rather than using behavior as a clue to what our kids might need.”
― Becky Kennedy, Good Inside: A Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want to Be