“Control your anger!” We’ve all heard a version of this statement from a parent. The truth of the matter is that we can’t control our emotions. Then why do parents tell their kids to control their emotions?

Anxiety has a purpose—it helps keep us safe. For centuries, our anxiety has helped the human race survive predators. Today, we’re near the top of the food chain.

Parents don’t play enough. When we become parents, our default stance is to be responsible—take care of kids, take them to school, work, pick them up from school, etc. We forget how to play because we have too many adult tasks that just needs to get done.