RULE 47
The right of expression
You may feel that you have an easier life when your kids are on an even keel. No rows, no tears, no outbursts. You’re quite right, it’s much easier. But it’s not good for kids to be like that all the time. They have strong emotions and they need to be able to show them. When they’re angry, they have to be allowed to say so. Your job is to teach them to say so in an acceptable way, and not to conceal their feelings no matter what.
I’ve known families where the kids get told off for being angry, regardless of how they do it. Of course, they must learn to be angry without being aggressive, abusive or threatening, but they must still be allowed to feel angry and to say so. Anger can be justified, anyway, and your ...
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