Quotes About Understanding

Compassion is always appreciated, whether it comes sooner or later.

There are youngsters who prefer no talk at all when they're upset. For them, Mom or Dad's presence is comfort enough.

by listening with full attention, by acknowledging his feelings with a word, by giving a name to his feelings, and by granting him his wishes in fantasy.

more helpful for an unhappy youngster to hear, "I see something is making you sad," rather than to be interrogated with "What happened?" or "Why do you feel that way?" It's easier to talk to a grown-up who accepts what you're feeling rather than one who presses you for explanations.

the question "Why?" only adds to their problem. In addition to their original distress, they must now analyze the cause and come up with a reasonable explanation.

when our words are infused with our real feelings of empathy that they speak directly to a child's heart.

The more you try to push a child's unhappy feelings away, the more he becomes stuck in them. The more comfortably you can accept the bad feelings, the easier it is for kids to let go of them. I guess you could say that if you want to have a happy family you'd better be prepared to permit the expression of a lot of unhappiness.

TO HELP WITH FEELINGS 1. Listen with full attention. 2. Acknowledge their feelings with a word—"Oh" . . . "Mmm" . . . "I see." 3. Give their feelings a name. 4. Give them their wishes in fantasy.

It's much easier to tell your troubles to a parent who is really listening. Sometimes a sympathetic silence is all a child needs.

became aware of how far gone I was when I found myself trying to Scotch-tape a broken pretzel together to stop my four-year-old from crying.

The more you try to push a child's unhappy feelings away, the more he becomes stuck in them.

But let someone really listen, let someone acknowledge my inner pain and give me a chance to talk more about what's troubling me, and I begin to feel less upset, less confused, more able to cope with my feelings and my problem.

It's hard for a child to think clearly or constructively when someone is questioning, blaming, or advising her.

When we urge a child to push a bad feeling away— however kindly—the child seems to get only more upset.

If someone really listens, acknowledges my emotional pain, and gives me the opportunity to talk more about it, I then "begin to feel less upset.

Steady denial of feelings can confuse and enrage kis. Also teaches them not to know what their feelings are--not to trust them.

You could tell a horse everything, and it wouldn't judge you or condemn you or think you stupid. A horse had no opinion at all about the way you looked.

It's strange how so much life can be lived without speaking

But he's got your way of making me lean into peace whenever I see red.

A shared history is valuable but maybe those two weren't right for each other and they know it

telling. I thought I knew this

How is it possible to know so much about a person and yet know nothing at all?

I mean literally just heard

Maybe, it was incredulity that two people could go through something together but still see it so differently.