Additional Coverage:
- I spent months trying to ‘fix’ my son’s emotional outbursts. He ended up teaching me something about myself instead. (businessinsider.com)
Local Mom and Therapist Discovers Key to Understanding Her Child’s Big Emotions
A local therapist and mother of four recently shared her journey of understanding her son’s emotional outbursts, a journey that ultimately led to a profound self-discovery. She described a moment when her son’s preschool teacher praised a “good day” as one without a tantrum. This struck a chord with the mother, who felt she was constantly trying to “fix” her son.
Driven by a desire to understand and help her child, she began researching parenting strategies late at night. One article on highly sensitive children stopped her in her tracks.
The description of these children – their aversion to crowds and loud noises, their heightened intelligence, and intense emotions – perfectly mirrored her son’s behavior. It also resonated deeply with her own experiences.
This realization sparked a wave of memories from her own childhood, where she often felt overwhelmed by the emotions of others. She had always considered this “over-empathizing” a flaw.
Now, she recognized it as a key aspect of being a highly sensitive person (HSP). Her son’s struggles had inadvertently led her to understand herself better.
This new understanding transformed her parenting approach. She stopped trying to change her son’s sensitivity and instead learned to work with it.
They now incorporate strategies like leaving events early when overstimulation sets in and ensuring quiet downtime for decompression. They even discuss the concept of HSP together, helping her son process his big emotions.
This mother’s journey has come full circle. Her experience has not only reshaped her parenting but also her professional practice as a therapist.
She now shares her story with other parents of “difficult” or “emotional” children, offering them a new perspective on sensitivity and empowering them to work with their children’s unique traits. She emphasizes that what we often perceive as flaws in our children can be powerful opportunities for self-discovery and growth, both for the child and the parent.