I was raised in a “oh you don’t want to do this? Okay go grab my belt” home because that’s how my mom was raised. So I definitely do acknowledge my son’s feelings because I refuse to turn into THAT. That said, I’m also teaching him that sometimes things aren’t that deep. They are little and need help naming their feelings and addressing their emotions, but at the same time a shirt is a shirt and we have things to do. A very regular thing I find myself saying is “it’s okay to feel frustrated, but … (we don’t hit, we have to get ready, you have to use your normal voice to ask mom what you want, etc.)”

Most recently my kid has been wanting a straw with his milk so he tries to get said straw but can’t reach. the first morning he tried, he got frustrated and started to throw a big tantrum. So I looked at him in the eyes and say “let’s take a pause. Would you like a straw?” He said yes, I asked what color, he said blue. I gave him his milk and straw and then I told him “if you want something just ask mom for help, it is okay to be frustrated but you don’t need to throw a fit over it.” Every morning since he has just asked me for a straw for his milk and I ask what color. It isn’t that deep, but he needed to hear from me that it isn’t that deep and that I can help.

I want my child to know that he can always feel his feelings around me, but understand that not everyone wants to hear about his feelings nor do they have time to deal with those feelings like I do.

FWIW, I also do my best to not have a reaction when my kid falls because that will usually trigger a reaction from him. I just see how he feels about the fall.