We try to do this, but we don’t always do it just right and thats okay. #trying . I’ve grown up in the mountains, but I’ve never been fearless or a “natural”. And I’m expressive about what I’m feeling out there in the elements- I always have been, and I think I know where it comes from- my parents. . My parents encouraged expression of emotions and showed us their emotions too. And in raising my own kids, the books I’ve read and podcasts I’ve listened to, really brought home the importance of doing this in order to raise emotionally intelligent children. Children who believe in themselves and have the positive self love that you all have been commenting on in Emi’s videos. . Tied up in all this is the idea of perseverance and bravery. In my mind, persevering doesn’t mean pushing on no matter what, and being brave isn’t about being fearless. If one of my kids says, “I’m scared”, or “I’m not comfortable”, or “I need a break”, or “I got this!”- I let them know that it’s all bravery. . Being brave means believing in yourself even when you are afraid, physically tired, emotional maxed out, excited, or a mix of it all. And believing in yourself means listening to your mind & body with respect and compassion and voicing it either with words or actions that support yourself. That takes courage. . And if I want them to believe this truly, I need to believe it myself, and model it for them, so we do. And I believe this is part of why Emi has this strong sense of perseverance and support for others as well as herself. We’ve also shown her that in the face of challenges, team work is magical. . #parenting #parentlife #bebrave #perserverance #family #raisingkids #outdoorfamily #believeinyourself #hikingwithkids