Validation is an important, yet often misunderstood concept and practice in any interpersonal relationship. It communicates recognition and acceptance of an individual’s thoughts, feelings, and/or behaviors. People often believe validation is synonymous with agreement or approval, but it actually communicates support, care, and concern for an individual, even if you do not entirely agree with them.
One of the biggest life transitions that one may experience is parenthood. For women, the mind and body undergo so many changes during pregnancy, such as changes in hormone levels and weight gain.
It’s important that our children learn that having various emotions is not a bad or scary thing. Even experiencing anger. It’s how one responds to the emotion that is noticed and evaluated. We need to show our children that when we experience an emotion, whether positive or negative, we have to acknowledge the emotion, accept it, and then decide how we want to respond.
Grappling between cultural and family expectations, and you feel lost or frustrated, therapy could be a really helpful space to explore these issues!