Don't Cry

Many parents and grandparents in this audience deeply want to be emotionally supportive, but they were raised in homes where feelings were often brushed aside or shut down. So in the moment, even with the best intentions, they can default to phrases like “don’t cry” or “you’re fine” without realizing those responses can dismiss what a child is actually feeling and teach them to bury emotions instead of process them. The gap is not care, it is language and learned behaviour. They already want to comfort their kids. It comes down to helping them see how small, everyday reactions either validate a child’s feelings or unintentionally silence them, and then giving them a more aware, emotionally present way to respond.