Day #354 Pleasant or Unpleasant Feelings – Character Development, Week #52

I want my kids to be pleasant to be around, but in no way do I want them to be little robots who suppress their feelings. It is neither healthy or human. I want them to be real, but I also want them to show self control and learn to express their emotions in an appropriate way. Today I wanted to talk to my kids about how it is OK to have unpleasant feelings. I was inspired by a chart I found out Elementary Counseling Blog. We decided to make the chart so that they can put a magnet in the column that expresses their emotions. I asked them if it is OK to have feelings of being sad, angry, anxious, or disappointed. They said yes. I gave them a scenario of them wanting a cookie at the grocery store and me deciding they have had too many treats so the answer would be no. I said, “Is it OK to be disappointed.” The answer, of course, is yes. The next question is, “Is it OK to whine and pitch a fit in the grocery store?” The answer, of course, is no. I reviewed some of the choices we can do if we feel angry. I have two posts about that. We talked about using our words to express our emotions. I made sure it was clear that it is OK and normal to feel a variety of emotions, but it is not OK to act out because of those emotions. I hope to continue to give them tools to deal with and process the natural things they will feel in this life.