This morning Emma read a book (with her own words) about
parents who screamed at their kids "because the kids were bad."

I was quite worried.
"Emma, do your Momma and Daddy scream at you and Maxie a lot?"
"No." (Big feeling of relief!)
"Are you and Maxie bad?"
"No, we're good. Sometimes we do bad stuff," she said. We've
been working on talking about how people sometimes make
choices that don't work out very well.
"Like what?"
"Sometimes I push Maxie, and sometimes Maxie throws toys,
and sometimes..."

Later, I asked Emma what parents should do when their kids
make bad choices. She said the parents could just walk away.
"Don't the parents have to teach the kids not to make those
choices?"
"Well, the kids could go on timeout."
"And what if that doesn't work?"
"The grownup could go on timeout too."

I am not sure if Emma is consciously recognizing that
conflicts escalate because both people get "heated up," but
she's right. Sometimes the best way for parents to solve
problems is to walk away or take a time out.

I hope you're able to find a little timeout this week. Slowing
down your reactions is a great first step to living more in
accord with your true intentions.
-Josh

Joshua Freedman
Director of Program, Six Seconds EQ Network
http://www.6seconds.org

PS. Have you seen the new eCards feature on 6seconds.org?
On the main menu (top left) click on "EQ eCards" to send one
of our inspiring cards to a friend (free, of course). Let me
know if you like them.