Letting Kids See How We Manage Emotions

My daughter came home from school one day and asked me to help her with her math homework. We sat down at the table, got out her worksheets and began to work through the problems. Math is not her easiest subject, though she tries her hardest to figure it out. As we sat down and began, I realized I knew what the answer was, but I couldn't explain how to get there. I tried my best, but my words did nothing other than confuse her. A solution came to my mind. Maybe if my words are not communicating how to solve the problem, my ability to actually do it in front of her would be more helpful. Finally, she got it! She looked at me and told me that it was easier for her to understand watching me solve the equation. That's when it clicked for me. The easiest way for my girls to understand how to deal with emotions is not for me to tell them, but for them to see me work through my own.