When Anxious Feelings Build Up with Elle E.

Elle has two kids, and her ten-year-old daughter is struggling at an age where, if it weren't for COVID, she'd be starting to look to peers to discover who she is becoming. She doesn't get the chance to interact with her friends as much as she'd like, and she tends to let her feelings build up until they turn into a meltdown about something often unrelated.

Today, we talk about what Elle can do about the situation. We note the importance of showing your child (and not just telling her) that it's okay to talk about your feelings, and that this makes moving past them easier. We talk about the importance of letting her know that you're not perfect either, and that she shouldn't be ashamed to feel anxious. We discuss why it's not a parent's job to fix these feelings, but to let her know that you're there for her when she's having them. We talk about why you shouldn't just give your children the answers to their problems, no matter how tempting it is.

"It's important for us to talk about our feelings...and it's okay if it's not always good."

- Sue Groner

This week on The Parenting Mentor:

• Why, the more you talk about your feelings, the easier it becomes to work through them
• Showing your children that you have difficult feelings too
• Why it's not your role to fix your child's feelings or problems
• The importance of letting your children know you're there for them

Meet the Parenting Mentor

If you want to reduce the everyday stress and anxiety that inevitably come with parenting and learn to be a happier and more relaxed parent, then this is the place for you.

Here, you can listen in on real sessions with parents who open up about the specific challenges they face with children from 2 to 22. Listen along and gain perspectives and strategies to help you parent with sanity and joy.

Visit theparentingmentor.com for notes on this show, more episodes, and all the ways to subscribe, and don't forget to pick up my book, Parenting with Sanity and Joy: 101 Simple Strategies, which includes my Nine Golden Rules of Parenting.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts!

Spotify I Stitcher I Apple Podcasts I iHeart Radio I TuneIn I Google Podcasts