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."