ABSTRACT
Developing an emotional vocabulary is a way of putting something intangible, like our feelings, into definable terms and creating a little distance from it. This enables the girls to look at our emotional status without becoming absorbed by our feelings. Furthermore, picking a word or phrase that the girls can use with friends and family to alert them to when they are becoming overwhelmed can enable their to manage our emotions before they get the better of the girls. The word, used in conjunction with taking a break and other relaxation techniques, helps the entire household work through those highly emotional times. People vary in their responses to stress based on age, developmental level, cultural norms, and tolerance for changes to their internal homeostatic state. Young children respond to stress with behaviors that mimic the onset of illness, like being clingy or experiencing changes in sleep and eating patterns.
