Words like “I can tell something important is happening for you. I care about that. I’m here,” or “I can see how upset you are. I believe you. I really do,” are powerful scripts for your toolbox in these moments. Now, remember, this doesn’t mean you have to “give in” to whatever your child happens to want in that moment—after all, we know from our family jobs that two things can be true: we can hold a firm boundary while still approaching a child with empathy and validation.
