All I've done is given her a platform. A voice. I think most kids feel the same way they are just unsure how to voice it. I can remember having inner dialogues like this as a child but being too scared to voice it for fear of backlash or just feeling like if I said anything I'd be accused of being disrespectful.

But in doing that it also made me responsible for my actions. So you have to be pretty thick skinned too. To be able to handle the fact you are told when you do something they don't like. We have the rule that if they do it respectfully its ok. But I'm also as forgiving of their emotional outbursts as they are of mine.

And I know there will be a lot of people who will be reading this and think I'm talking out my butt or I'm gloating again but let me tell you I'm not perfect. Not at all. But communication and emotional awareness is a huge part of who I am so it's a huge part of my parenting style. And only now as I watch my DD blossom into a teenager am I really seeing the impact it has had on her and how important it is. And like I said. I'm not perfect, my kids probably watch too much tv. I probably don't "play" with them enough. We don't take part in group sports and you won't find quinoa in my cupboard. But this is something I'm passionate about. And everyone has a passion. Doesn't make me perfect. Ok? I'm not. This stuff is important to me. And therefore it's important to my kids.