“I really want, when my children are failing, to know that it’s not about me and my anger, but it is about them and their need for growth. And I do believe in consequences, but I believe in consequences delivered from a calm mind and a calm heart.” – Michelle Nietert.

Licensed Professional Counselor of 25 years, Michelle Nietert is the best-selling coauthor of the books Managing Your Emojis, God, I Feel Sad, God, I Feel Scared, Loved and Cherished, and the award-winning book for adults Make Up Your Mind. She leads a team of counselors as the clinical director of Community Counseling Associates in the Dallas, TX, area.

In this second part of the two-part episode series, Michelle addresses children’s emotional struggles and the importance of parents understanding and empathizing with these challenges. She offers valuable insights on how parents can listen to their children without resorting to lecturing and the significance of allowing kids to express themselves while guiding them toward making their own decisions. Michelle emphasizes the significance of staying calm during emotional moments and techniques to help parents and children regulate their emotions and discipline in a calmer way that won’t leave the parents with regret or the children with anger.

Michelle elaborates on these key takeaways:

• Children’s emotional struggles don’t mean they don’t love God.
• Sometimes, kids are more afraid to tell parents their emotions because they fear they will disappoint them.
• Parental understanding of the impact of hormones and brain development on emotions.
• Teaching children about self-control as a fruit of the spirit.
• Recognizing that children’s brains are not fully developed, especially in response to trauma.
• How to differentiate between a child’s need for a break and wanting to escape a consequence.
• Addressing the impact of nonverbal communication on a child’s perception.
• Encouraging repeat of instructions and follow-up to ensure children understand and are accountable.
• The importance of breathing exercises and breath regulation.
• Becoming a coregulator with children for emotional peace and cooperation.
• Physical calming techniques such as changing body temperature and physical touch.
• The importance of parents being the emotional compass for their children.

Michelle’s Website, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Blog.

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