The words we say are powerful.

Imagine you have come home after a stressful day's work, you are venting, you are stressed, you are on the verge of tears. Your partner says to you “it’s okay!”

It may be with the best intentions, TRULY! 

But you may be feeling very NOT okay right now!

Now picture your child, very afraid, and very upset, looking to you for validation. When being met with “it’s okay”, they may be feeling unheard, unseen, and unsafe. 

Instead of “it’s okay” try:

• “It sounds like this is really hard, I’m here for you.”
• “I see that you are scared, you are safe”
• “I know that this hurts, you will know we are all done when _____”
• “I am here with you”
• “It is okay to be upset”

With these little changes, you are providing emotional validation for your child in their moment of need. What other phrases do you use instead of “it’s okay?”