Why are Our Kids so Darn Anxious??

Actually, we are all going through some serious emotional turmoil right now (today has been a tough day for me. HUMAN). We feel up and down, angry and joyful, grateful and frustrated, slowing down and overwhelmed, trusting and afraid, and sometimes all of these things at once.

 

 

Our kids are experiencing the same roller coaster of emotions. The difference is they don't have the same tools and regulation skills that we have (or can learn about) to understand and manage these intense feelings. They turn to us for guidance, reassurance, and a safe space to release all those heavy feelings.

 

 

As a parent, it can make you feel helpless when your child cries that he misses his friends, that she is sad that she won't have her school play or graduation, that he feels overwhelmed being trapped inside, that she's upset she had to end her year overseas so abruptly, that he's scared hearing about all the illness and death in the world. When they are melting down, irritable, or talking back it can make you feel powerless and confused.

 

 

It feels even more difficult when you haven't allowed yourself to experience these feelings unconditionally and without judgment.

 

 

 

 

Make sure negative emotions are just as welcome as the positive ones for you and your loved ones. The more familiar feelings and emotions are, the less bad and scary they feel. Forgive yourself for your unglamorous parenting moments. There is more room for empathy and understanding when we are in touch with and aware of the protective function of our own emotional responses.

 

 

If we want to be able to safely and effectively hold space for our kid's emotions, we have to give ourselves the same courtesy.

 

 

All feelings are good feelings.

Show yourself compassion.

 

And remember, we are all learning. 💜💜💜