“Don’t laugh at a youth for his affectations; he is only trying on one face after another to find his own.”
(Logan Pearsall Smith (1865-1946))

Children, like adults, long to be taken seriously. Hopes, dreams, fears, and hurts are every bit as real to kids as they are to us. Whether it’s a toddler who is afraid of the dark or a teen who has just had her heart broken, we can really make a difference if we can empathize with them rather than ridicule or dismiss them.

Remember, kids are in the process of becoming. They are trying on all sorts of personalities, likes, dislikes, and attitudes to see what fits them best. The more supportive you can be in what matters to them, and the less reactive you get in the heat of their varied moments, the better off you’ll both be.

Peace begins with pause,