Sometimes I cry, Sometimes I laugh

Sometimes I cry, Sometimes I laugh

$24.00
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For quite some time, I’ve had a desire to write a children’s book about emotions. But I didn’t just want the book to talk about emotions; I wanted it to acknowledge and respect emotions. I wanted to write a book that I would feel good about reading to my own children, one that conveys a healthy view of emotions. And while this is certainly a children’s book, I’ve also written it with their parents and other adults in their lives in mind. In fact, because of how it models respectful communication and empathic limit-setting, Sometimes I Cry / Sometimes I Laugh could even be viewed as a parent handbook of sorts.

Starting from either side, the book tells two stories that begin separately and meet in the middle. The flip format is symbolic, as the book explores opposite ends of the emotional spectrum and takes a holistic approach to examining these contrasting feelings and the ways we express them.

The book talks openly about both crying and laughing, without judging one to be better or more correct than the other. The central message is that all emotions, both positive and negative, are valid, and that children should always be given space to express their feelings and be met with empathy and understanding when they do. It’s a message about which I am incredibly passionate, and I believe this is the single most important shift that we as parents can make in our thinking; if we can truly internalize the idea that all emotions are valid and deserve to be expressed, we will be much better equipped to support our children in developing healthy emotional balance and emotional intelligence.

- Kristín Maríella

The book is double sided

Inside the book parents will find powerful language examples of how to support and acknowledge their child's big emotions coupled with scripts that help any caregiver get better at setting clear, confident limits with calm and compassion.

The book explores opposite ends of the emotional spectrum featuring two parallel yet contrasting stories that meet in the middle.

Laughter is not always positive

The story thoughtfully displays laughter and laughing in various ways. We laugh when we are having fun and being playful, we may laugh when laughing is not appropriate or even hurtful, we might laugh at ourselves when we make silly mistakes and lastly, we experience mixed emotions.

Crying is good - Laughing is good

I believe it does a person a great disservice in life to be afraid of a normal part of their existence.

The sad reality is that most of us actually are. We are scared and avoidant of our negative emotions. Most of us grew up repeatedly receiving the message that these emotions were “bad” and not to be expressed or even felt. We were scolded, punished or shamed for crying or expressing our upsets as children. But how are we supposed to handle life if we can’t handle a perfectly normal part of it?

It is incredibly healing to realize that you can choose a different path for yourself and your children. To see how you can break the cycle and consciously choose to step out of some of those patterns. This is much of what respectful and mindful parenting is about, intentionally stepping into a greater awareness and then choosing differently in your own parenting.

It all starts is with holding space for the whole child, to accept them fully. And then to demonstrate our unconditional love by consistently showing up with love for their highest of highs as well as their lowest of low.

As the book puts it, “We all get upset from time to time. Some days, when you’re in a bad mood, it might feel good to cry. Other days, when you’re so happy you feel like you could burst, it might feel good to laugh."