Welcome everyone and pull up a seat at the table. It’s Lunchtime in Rome. Tonight’s episode 182 is entitled, “Meeting your toddler’s emotional needs.” It's hard for us to express how we feel. It is rare for people to even know what their emotional needs are and how they can be met. What must it be like for a baby or toddler who cannot express what they don't understand that they're feeling? Further, what can parents do to keep them from feeling scared and alone?
We'll be talking about that this week at The Table. Pull up a seat at the table and join us!
Parenting feels hard because it is hard
Your child is a hard time, not giving you a hard time
Our jobs as parents:
Physical safety-> boundaries
Two story house analogy: downstairs (impulse and emotion), stairs (parents), upstairs (self-awareness, decision-making, etc.) (From the Whole Brain Child by Daniel Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson)
Validation
Empathy
Attachment theory: children are hardwired to seek out nurturing relationships in order to survive
Two things are true: it doesn't always need to be either/or
ex. Your child can be frustrated and you can still maintain boundaries
Behavior is a window
Reduce shame, increase connection
Meeting Your Toddler’s Emotional Needs