Exploring Emotions: Snippets from Today's Conversations

Owen: Mommy, I played with Stella today at school. She is my friend.
Heather: Yes, she is your good friend.
Owen: Yes, and she is Kyle's friend too. Right Kyle?
Kyle: That's right. She is my friend. Mommy, can Stella come to my Birthday Party?
H: Yes, she can.
K: I told Stella she can come to my birthday party.
H: Oh, good!
O: And we went to Stella's Ballerina Dancing birthday party yesterday. We did that, right Mommy?
H: Yes, that's right.
K: When we did that I felt very anxious Mommy. I felt nervous when it was Stella's birthday party.
H: Oh? You did Kyle?
K: Yes, I felt anxious and nervous.
H: Oh. Why?
K: Because I wanted it to be my birthday party. So that's why I felt anxious. That's why.
H: Oh, did you feel jealous?
K: Yes! Jealous! I felt so jealous! Because I want it to be my birthday.
O: Mommy, why is it not our birthday? Why? Why?
H: It will be your birthday soon. In a few weeks.
O: It will be twenty weeks!!!?! Why not one week? Why twenty weeks?
H: It isn't twenty weeks, just a few.
K: That's why I was so jealous. That's why! Because it can never be our birthday. Never ever. It is too far away.
O: That's why we're so mad at Stella, right Kyle?
K: That's right Owen!

* * *

Kyle: Mommy, today, at school, somebody said hurtful words to me.
Heather: Oh?!
K: Yes! They said hurtful words. And then I said, 'WHATEVER,' and then I walked away. I just walked right away. She said, 'I don't want to play with you.' And I said, 'WHATEVER,' and then I walked away from her!
H: Oh, that was a good thing to do.
K: Yes! And then I said hurtful words to her too! I said it very loud! I said, 'I don't want to play with you too'!!!

* * *

Owen: Mommy, I will stomp up the stairs and go to my room and slam the door!
Heather: Why?
O: Because I'm getting so anxious!
H: Oh?! Why are you so anxious?
O: I'm so anxious because my Baby Sister.
H: Oh?
O: I'm so anxious because my Baby Sister is not coming out yet!
H: Oh! Right, she's not coming out yet. So that makes you feel anxious?
O: Yes! And that's why I'm going to stomp up the stairs and slam my door! Because I'm so mad! I'm so mad and I'm so anxious because my Baby Sister is not coming out yet!