Sweet Emotion

August 15, 2007 · 11 comments

Don’t we all need to shed those tears that well up in our eyes and strangle our throats with giant lumps every once in a while?

It seems my just-about-to-be-4-year-old feels that way, especially when he’s tired. And thanks to a wise friend, I’m learning to encourage his emotional release and acknowledge it rather than get bothered by it. A validation of his emotions, if you will.

When he’s tired, the smallest things will set him off. Just last night, for example, we were lying in his bed (around MIDNIGHT!!) and I was talking to him about his birthday coming up and his birth and how much and how long we were all waiting for him to be born. And about how happy we were when we finally met him. And somehow we got talking about his daddy and he started to cry, wanting his daddy to read to him. When I explained that he was asleep, since it was so late and he had to work in a few hours, he looked at me with huge eyes and huge tears and said “I wish daddy could stay home and read to me”. My response would normally be exasperation and a huge desire for him to just go to sleep. Instead, I sat and we talked some more about how he felt and he calmed right down and was fine.

Today, we ordered an ice cream cake and of course, had to get some ice cream while we were there, and little mr. getting sleepy said “I wish daddy was here so I could sit on his lap” with the big ‘ol tears. So I scooped him up and sat him in my lap. A couple minutes later he was fine again.

Emotional validation – something we all need and desire, but I never really realized my kids needed it, too. DUH.

{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }

phenom August 16, 2007 at 1:34 am

Daddy wishes he could stay home and read to him, too.

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phenom August 16, 2007 at 8:34 am

Daddy wishes he could stay home and read to him, too.

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Shine August 16, 2007 at 8:44 am

I love when I figure stuff out with my boys too, it brings you a little closer and can make them so much easier to deal with! Here\'s to hoping our boys stay as sweet at they are today!

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Tabatha August 16, 2007 at 3:09 pm

How sweet…

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Shine August 16, 2007 at 3:44 pm

I love when I figure stuff out with my boys too, it brings you a little closer and can make them so much easier to deal with! Here’s to hoping our boys stay as sweet at they are today!

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jen August 16, 2007 at 5:53 pm

i am going through the same over here. with remarkably little patience on my end.

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jen August 17, 2007 at 12:53 am

i am going through the same over here. with remarkably little patience on my end.

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tabba August 17, 2007 at 10:09 am

very wise of you…..i\'ve noticed Connor go through the same thing from time to time. i think i will have to draw from this post and your wisdom and just let him have it out.

emotional validation. so important,

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tabba August 17, 2007 at 5:09 pm

very wise of you…..i’ve noticed Connor go through the same thing from time to time. i think i will have to draw from this post and your wisdom and just let him have it out.

emotional validation. so important,

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flutter August 17, 2007 at 4:55 pm

That had to be such a heart breaker

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flutter August 17, 2007 at 11:55 pm

That had to be such a heart breaker

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