Sometimes you may get overwhelmed or dysregulated by my loud cries or screams, my physical reactions like jumping on you or hitting, or telling you, “No!” to exert my independence. You may not even notice this, and it’s usually easier to blame me, but my behavior is part of my development, and your response to my behavior can help both of us! Please don’t take my behavior personally, I’m not doing it to push your buttons, I’m still learning about myself and my world. My behavior may activate big feelings in you, based on your past experiences or how you’re doing in that very moment. When you start to feel dysregulated, it can help to pause and notice what your body is feeling, take a deep breath, and remind yourself that you can manage your reactions to me, which helps me learn how to manage my reactions too.
