25 Jan Weathering Emotions
The last few weeks have been unseasonably cold and rainy in Phoenix. While the weather doesn’t come close to the Arctic temperatures experienced in some parts of the country, it feels cold for Phoenicians.
The girls are used to heading to school in summery outfits year-round, but when I saw freezing early morning temperatures and continuous rain in the forecast, I suggested they think about what to wear to stay warm. I watched as they pulled out their raincoats from the closet, put some leggings under their dresses, and opted for closed-toe shoes instead of their usual sandals.
As we drove to school, I thought about how this kind of preparation, akin to learning to dress for the weather, is what helping people learn to work through emotions is all about.
As much as we would like to, we don’t check the weather report and demand the weather change immediately to suit someone’s temperature preferences. We also don’t rush outside to find a way to cover the sky. As helpers, we realize that we can’t control the weather. What we can do is help others learn how to best prepare for it.
When Emma got out of the car, raindrops began falling on her head, and she squealed, “Mom, I’m getting all wet!” And indeed, she was. Still, the rain didn’t stop. Because the rain is inevitable, just like the experience of big emotions.
It’s helpful to learn not to push those feelings away but to accept them as temporary and keep them warm until the sun shines again.
I watched until Emma turned the corner in her raincoat, glad that she was dressed for the weather.