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ADVICE RATING
 (Highly recommend) (Highly recommend) (Highly recommend) (Highly recommend) (Highly recommend) 4.91 (Highly recommend) from 30 votes (1022 Visits)

Children Should Be Allowed To Get Angry Too!

LoyalMiss by LoyalMiss Speaking(January 2007) (rank 500+)

Children should be allowed to get angry too.  It is what they do with their anger that parents need to consider - not the fact that they get angry.

I remember a couple of years ago, when I was visiting my sister on the other side of Australia, and

I told my oldest son that he wasn't allowed to do something he very much wanted to do.  He thought about it for a minute and then said "Mum I'm very angry at you".  I replied "That's okay darling, it's what you do with your anger that counts".  I then asked him if he wanted to talk to me about it and he stated that he was too angry and didn't want to talk to me.  He then stormed off.

My sister looked at me and I could see she was horrified.  Now she has a son the same age as mine and she said to me, "How dare you tell your child that it is alright for him to be angry with you?  If my son learns that from you I will never forgive you".

I couldn't believe what she was saying to me and I asked her, "Sis, do you have that much control over your son that you can tell him he can't be angry with you and he isn't?".  She too stormed off and made my stay with her very difficult.  I ended up leaving earlier than planned.

As it turned out my son came back to me about 15 minutes later, ready to tell me why he was angry at me.  I explained why I had made my decision and after some discussion, my son and I resolved the issue in question.

Why shouldn't my son have the right to tell me when I have made him angry?  If he can't tell me then how is he going to be able to tell others in his life? 

Children need to be able to express how they feel.  We, as their parents, need to teach them ways to do this in a safe way that doesn't harm them or others - not forbid them to be angry at us.   I would be the first to admit that I am not perfect and yes I am going to say and do things that make my children angry with me.  I would rather they tell me to my face than find out from someone else and I would rather they tell me immediately rather than bottle it up.  Bottling up anger is not healthy for anyone and usually ends up causing the issue to be far bigger than it needs to be.

 

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mcm
October 2008 | mcm
Re: Children Should Be Allowed To Get Angry Too!

Children need to be able to express how they feel.

I totally agree.



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lexiw
September 2007 | lexiw
Re: Children Should Be Allowed To Get Angry Too!

I think it is wonderful that your son could talk to you about how he feels GREAT JOB

 Lexi xxx



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lightbee
5.00 (Excellent) | January 2007 | lightbee
Well done!

Of course your son should be allowed to have emotions - including anger.  And may I say that it sounds like he handled the situation with a great deal of maturity that I haven't seen in many adults.  The fact he can identify his own feelings and express them without laying blame or doing anything inappropriate is amazing.  Good on you both!

Now it just seems that your sister needs to learn that too!!!



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      LoyalMiss
January 2007 | LoyalMiss
Well done!

Your right my son does show a great deal of maturity at times - it is a shame that more adults didn't learn this when young.  Both my son and I do slip at times but we can normally talk things through and express our emotions positively.

Thanks for your comments.



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kseers
5.00 (Excellent) | January 2007 | kseers
Excellent advice
You have some great perspectives on parenting and write really well.  I agree wholeheartedly.  I think I'll have to remember your phrasing "it's what you do with your anger that counts".  My very assertive three year old is struggling a bit at the moment with aggression and we are trying to teach him ways of dealing with the feelings behind it so that he doesn't lash out.  Not easy....  but thanks for the tips!  I think if you can have discussions like this with your teenage son you are doing brilliantly!!


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      LoyalMiss
5.00 (Excellent) | January 2007 | LoyalMiss
Excellent advice
Thank you kseers for your comment.  Yes I can have discussions like this with both my boys but it did take some work.  I started with the boys when they were very young, even through the terrible twos.  They may not have understood everything I said - as I am sure you can relate with your very assertive three year old, but with consistency they eventually did.  I think communication is the most important part of any relationship - adult or children.  No kseers it's not easy but you will be rewarded heaps for the work you put in at this age and not to mention so will your three year old.  Good luck and keep up the good work.


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OzBinky
5.00 (Excellent) | January 2007 | OzBinky
Well said Colleen

I'm sure I voted and commented on this.....*sigh* (just me going mad I think!!)

Great article!!!

I hope your sister can understand and appreciate what you were saying...and before she looses that choice to teach her own children....

Can I have you as a sister??? If she don't wanna use you and your wisdom....I will

Cheers Lavinia



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      LoyalMiss
5.00 (Excellent) | January 2007 | LoyalMiss
Well said Colleen

Thanks for your beautiful comments Lavina.  I haven't bought the issue up with my sister since but I don't think her view will be any different.  She is a very insecure person so maybe that is why she doesn't like the idea of her children telling her they are angry.  Until she come overcome some of her insecurity - nothing will change.  But good news is that she has realised her insecurity causes her problems and she is starting to work on that.  She also know I'm there if she needs me.

 



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emmysmum
5.00 (Excellent) | January 2007 | emmysmum
Well said
I completely agree with what you said. It IS important for our children to be able to share their feelings with us and approach in an appropriate manner about them, as they are human too! We need to be good role models and teach our children the right way to express, and that is without violence!
WEll done on a great article! I look forward to reading more of your advice!


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      LoyalMiss
5.00 (Excellent) | January 2007 | LoyalMiss
Well said
Thanks emmysmum, it's comments like yours that gives me the courage to write more.  Thanks for the confidence boost.  Cheers Colleen


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Bambie30
5.00 (Excellent) | January 2007 | Bambie30
Kids and Anger
I had a lot of stress problems due to having to hold everything inside that i nearly burst. I dont want my kids to end up the same way. They r allowed to get angry and say how they feel. Then we r fine again. Anger is great to get off ur chest as long as there is no violence with it.


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      LoyalMiss
5.00 (Excellent) | January 2007 | LoyalMiss
Kids and Anger

I know what you are saying Bambie30 - I too used to burst with anger at times because I was taught to hold it all in.  Good for you that you are teaching your child differently.

I'm happy to see so many comments on this advice saying that they are teaching their children to express their anger.  It means we are all breaking the cycle of the previous generation.

I say a well done to all the strong parents that are helping to change this issue in society.

Thanks for your comment.  Regards Colleen



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lunaeclips5
5.00 (Excellent) | January 2007 | lunaeclips5
Too true
Kids are told to supress there anger, at school at home every where and as Adults they end up lashing out as they think they have never been heard. Great Advise.


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mumof1girl
5.00 (Excellent) | January 2007 | mumof1girl
Very well said

 

I also ask my child alot of questions when i have to. I think it helps the child / person to communicate better, and not end up being angry or sad all the time etc.



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      LoyalMiss
5.00 (Excellent) | January 2007 | LoyalMiss
Very well said
Good for you mumof1girl, you are so right and it does help your child communicate better.  I've always believed that communication is one of the most important aspect of any relationship.  Your child will go a long way with you as a mum.  Congratulations.


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Raine
5.00 (Excellent) | January 2007 | Raine
I so agree with what you have said
If only more parents had the courage to allow their children to express themselves, your doing a wonderful job! For to long even as an adult I learnt to bottle up my emotions & hide behind a mask which only served to bring on sickness & depression. We need to begin teaching our children that it's alright to cry, that you don't have keep silent if your hurting, etc. Openly expressing how we feel in the RIGHT way is a positive step towards making this world a better place. Why do we humans try to act so tough when we're breaking apart inside?


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      LoyalMiss
5.00 (Excellent) | January 2007 | LoyalMiss
I so agree with what you have said
Too true Raine and thank you for your comments.  It is alright to cry and many an adult still needs to learn that.  It took me a long time to learn that I could cry and not have to feel guilty afterwards.  It is good to see that society is slowing changing their idea on this issue.  Especially where boys and men are concerned.  We wouldn't have as much voilence in this world if people, especially men and boys, knew that they were allowed to cry rather than bottle things up.  We are slowly getting there as a society as a whole. 


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Jodette
5.00 (Excellent) | January 2007 | Jodette
Well written
Well done nice piece of writing. Don't worry about your sister your doing a good job. There are different types of parenting and no matter what we do as parent's there is always going to be someone that disagree's. Your teaching your children to express their emotion in a safe and positive way and I'm sure this will help them as they grow.


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      LoyalMiss
5.00 (Excellent) | January 2007 | LoyalMiss
Well written

Thank you Jodette, I appreciate your comments.  I agree there is always someone that will disagree but I have to do what I feel is right and in this instance I do believe I am right to allow them to express their anger as long as it is safely done.  Cheers Colleen



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mommyofone
5.00 (Excellent) | January 2007 | mommyofone
great way to deal with emotions
This was wonderful!  My 13 month old is just starting to throw tantrums and I'm already letting her have her tantrum and then "talk" to her and tell her what Mommy wants her to do we go do it.  Yeah, it's usually just little things like going downstairs instead of staying upstairs, but I think it's good for her to have her tantrum without me telling her to stop.  Usually if I walk towards the steps she stops, gets up and comes over to me and we go downstairs.
Haven't had to deal with this in public yet, but we'll see how it works when the time comes!


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wolonfab
5.00 (Excellent) | January 2007 | wolonfab
emotions make us all Human ...
I agree wholeheartedly with your advice......But alas master 5 often takes it too far ...He doesn't tell me he is angry with me but goes all the way and all i hear is 'I hate you Mum'...... But as he doesn't understand emotions anyway so i have to  forgive him .... Is a kick to the heart at the time though.....

My 2 year old has just started to voice her anger though with her she is fair go lucky so i don't have her angry alot YET!!!!.... i would be happier if master 5 would just say you make me angry etc...... ...Its  easier to understand your children when they can voice their emotions whether good or bad ...Its waht makes us Human.....


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exquisite-flower
5.00 (Excellent) | January 2007 | exquisite-flower
'mean and selfish'
I encourage E to tell me how she feels, at present she is experimenting with new words and phrases and as I was reading this she was saying 'You are mean and selfish'.  Not meaning anything by it, just experimenting - and when it is like this, be they negative or positive things she says, if they are just said randomly like now we talk about what they mean so that when she says them and means them she says them in context and with understanding.
Peace
EF.x 


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      LoyalMiss
5.00 (Excellent) | January 2007 | LoyalMiss
'mean and selfish'
Hi EF,  What a wonderful idea.  This is taking it the next step up from letting your child express their anger safely.  Well done.  Cheers Colleen


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breannababy
5.00 (Excellent) | January 2007 | breannababy
TOO TRUE
Hi there Colleen, I believe it is totally appropriate for a child to tell you they are angry with you.Breanna is just over 2 and says to me already Mummy I's sooooo  coss wiss uooo,When I have stopped her doing something or having something. I don't condone cheekiness or disrespectful conduct,However even at her young age I will tell her to calm down and tell Mummy why she is cross etc.After me explaining and comforting her on my reasons and depending on how tired she isLOL she usually responds very well.I think you are correct in the ideal that children need to be able express there anger in us.I mean we allow love and sorrow as well as happiness so why not appropriately expressed anger.Well done on a great article.regards Merle


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      LoyalMiss
5.00 (Excellent) | January 2007 | LoyalMiss
TOO TRUE
Hi Merle, I'm not sure I could keep a straight face if I was you and your daughter was saying I's sooooo coss wiss uooo, LOL.  I can also relate to the "depending how tired she is".  Thanks for your compliment on my article.  Cheers Colleen


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           breannababy
5.00 (Excellent) | January 2007 | breannababy
TOO TRUE
Oh boy Colleen she is such a character, I frequently have to turn away so she doesn't see me laughing at her antics LOL regards Merle


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                exquisite-flower
5.00 (Excellent) | January 2007 | exquisite-flower
TOO TRUE
i know that one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have had to leave the room before - and she thought I was crying I went so fast....i love watching her develop and mature in her little girl ways and desire to be a big girl, but love being a little girl too much too...Children are priceless
Peace
EF.x 


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NickysMumMum
5.00 (Excellent) | January 2007 | NickysMumMum
Excellent advice!!!
You are brilliant! I completely share your thughts on this matter. I too believe that by letting kids experience their emotions, even the ones we don't like lol, we are teaching them self control - to regulate their own emotions. My hubby is only just now learning to self regulate his emotions. His mum was controlling and would force him out of his anger or depression as a child/teen. He then needed substances to help him when he was angry or down. He's facing these problems now.


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      LoyalMiss
5.00 (Excellent) | January 2007 | LoyalMiss
Excellent advice!!!
Thanks for the compliment.  I too had problems expressing my anger even as an adult so I have made more important still not to bring my boys up that way.  Hope all works out for your husband.  In the long run, he will be glad of the hard work he does now with this issue.  Thanks again.  Cheers Colleen


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           mandymum3
5.00 (Excellent) | January 2007 | mandymum3
Excellent advice!!!
great stuff.. too true. i wish more parents thought like this


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