02/19/2019
The first image that comes to mind when we think of “strength” is probably some sort of friday flex picture-
AMIRIGHT INSTA?
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But this-
this moment (rewind about a week)
is a moment, a place in time that I felt a different kind of strength. -
I sat here- in the corner of my kiddos room while talking her through a tantrum.
I wanted to pull my hair out.
I wanted to scream and kick and give up-
But I knew the latter would only add to the chaos of the situation.
As a parent, it’s my job to GUIDE her through the emotions she’s having..
-guide her through DEALING with ALL sorts of feelings
not to squelch them- not to tell her to STOP them- but teach her how to interact with each one, like a coffee date with an old friend- or sometimes a sparring partner.
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So with that, I sat- breathing deeply inward and outwardly I repeated the next two statements for what seemed like hours.
“It’s OKAY to be angry! It’s OKAY to be MAD and KICK and scream-
BUT YOU MAY NOT HIT ME.”
&
“Once you calm your body, we can find a quiet activity for 2-3 minutes (cuddles or a book) AND THEN we can go back downstairs.”
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Reassuring her that ANGER is a fine emotion-
but there are boundaries to expressing it-
as well as letting her know that I would be a there for her when/if she needs a calm.
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I kept breathing, kept repeating to myself that teaching her to express and regulate her emotions is my job- all the while working on my own (while simultaneously being thankful we weren’t at the grocery store)
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This may not be a flex picture-
but it’s a picture that shows me in a place where I felt strong.
A place where I felt like I could regulate my emotions while madness ensued-
And sure enough, she calmed down, we sat and read a book together and went back downstairs to return our activity.
I came out feeling so accomplished that I wanted to share my “strength” story for this week with you all-
It may not be a six pack, or a sweaty picture after a WOD, but it’s my kind of strength and that’s what is important to me.
What kinds of things make you feel STRONG- make you feel like you’ve learned a new lesson, or have “grown” - what’s your strength story for the week?
