If you did not have relatives who comforted you as a child, you may
not realize how valuable it is. Having adults recognize a child's feelings and
help them cope builds strong relationships and empathy. Being comforted not just
when sad and even when angry or upset does not make a child think they can get
away with things. What are your ideas about how to teach your child that their
feelings are okay growing up? It is said that "it takes a village to raise a child."
The most important adults are the child's parents, but getting other members of
your extended family involved widens the safety net and teaches that there are a
number of people who can help.
