“Nerdection Worth to Read”
Parenting is hard. This is not a secret. It is the ultimate act of self-sacrifice – consuming parents’ time, money, and identity. It is also a minefield of different and often polarising opinions. Online and social media are frightening places to go looking for information or advice on the topic. So maybe an easy-to-read book might be the thing some of you have been looking for. Cooling the Flame: Guiding Kids Through Anger acknowledges the difficulties and the incredible effort that is needed to effectively parent, but also provides a positive outlook. After all, there is very little that a parent wouldn’t do for their children – such is the power of a parent’s love.
Spoiler-free plot summary
Urgell’s book is a common-sense guide to dealing with children, particularly younger ones, and their tempers based mostly on anecdotal evidence but also refers to social and psychological science. It delivers practical advice and useful information, blended with the author’s unique sense of humor for a pleasant delivery that parents will find approachable.
Cooling the Flame provides insight and structure as to how parents can navigate anger, “the red monster”, with their children. Benefits for kids who manage to tame the beast include being more likely to grow up to demonstrate greater empathy and emotional intelligence, and therefore have better social skills and maintain healthier relationships. Urgell expertly explains this fascinating ripple effect of human feelings and how it influences small children’s intellectual and social potential.
The advice laid out is well structured, ranging from breathing exercises and communication around feelings, all the way about to how to seek professional help, and then how to reinforce good progress.
Get updates on the latest book reviews, recommendations, and much more
My take on Cooling the Flame: Guiding Kids Through Anger
As a non-fiction parenting book, there was a lot to digest here. Informationally, I found the use of the phrase “evidence shows” but then no follow up with a citation or referencing a little irritating. Readers will have to source their own empirical research to supplement this reading. However, the layout of information was well thought out and easy to follow. Additionally, the writing style was humorous and light-hearted, allowing readers to understand and relate to Urgell, herself a proud mother of two, who refers to her daughter as her “mini me”.
I found the acknowledgment of emotional displays in different cultures unique and poignant. Urgell has an Argentinian background and admits that when she is with her friends and family speaking Spanish, her volume and emotional expression increases, compared to when she speaks English, and the tone and emotionality of her expressions become more subdued. I think this acknowledgment is very important now that we all exist in a globalized, multicultural society.
As a “problem child” myself, who required therapy in my youth, I appreciated Urgell’s inclusion of seeking professional help for children and parents. It was also reassuring to read her disclaimer that therapists and psychological intervention should not be viewed as a means by which parents can “fix” their children, but rather help them and their families understand themselves better and develop coping mechanisms to create a happier and healthier existence.
My experience with being taken to therapy as a child was in relation to irrational fears and anxiety as opposed to anger management, but I think Urgell’s principles can be adapted to any negative emotion that a person can feel. The basic understanding that Urgell encourages us to apply to small children is that they have no context for anything and have not yet had societal-norm filters applied, so of course they don’t understand that it is socially unacceptable to express big feelings in big ways in public spaces.
Urgell’s focus is on anger because this big feeling is often exhibited in a destructive fashion, which can be confronting for adults who are capable of identifying their own feelings and dealing with them quickly and quietly. In encouraging children to develop their emotional intelligence, parents and carers can also take the opportunity to work on their empathy on an intellectual level.
About The Author Of Cooling the Flame: Guiding Kids Through Anger
Laura Urgell is a versatile professional, expertly balancing multiple roles like a masterful juggler in a circus act. By day, she assumes the position of a Technical Recruiter and Business Owner, aligning skilled individuals with ideal career opportunities. In her spare moments, Laura displays her talent as a freelance writer, skillfully crafting words into engaging narratives.
But that’s not all; this modern-day superhero dons the hat of a loving mom, akin to a CEO overseeing a tiny, occasionally chaotic yet incredibly endearing startup – her kids. Beyond her family commitments, Laura is a board member for a nongovernmental organization dedicated to supporting local law enforcement, showcasing her commitment to noble causes.
Laura Urgell was born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina. When she was a little girl, her parents settled in California. After completing her master’s degree, Laura decided to move back to Argentina and go back to her hereditary roots. However, after ten years, a husband, and two kiddos (her endless sources of inspiration and struggles, lol), they decided to make Roanoke, Texas, their home (it’s near Dallas). There, she resides with her husband, her two children, and two not-so-small dogs that believe they are lapdogs, despite one of them tipping the scales at a whopping 90 pounds.
Laura kicked off her academic escapades with a scholarship-powered sprint to snag an associate’s degree. Then, it was a wild journey through the jungle of Criminal Justice, where she emerged with both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree. But wait, there’s more! Laura polished her legal prowess with a paralegal certificate, proving that she can decode legal jargon like a pro. And just for kicks, she nabbed not one but two small business certificates from Wesleyan because why settle for one when you can have double the fun? Now, armed with knowledge and a penchant for witty prose, she’s ready to conquer the literary world!
Amidst her roles in wrangling words, children, and energetic canines, Laura Urgell’s passion for life and magnetic personality radiate through every line of her writing. Prepare to be captivated, informed, and perhaps even inspired to embark on a rollercoaster adventure or two after delving into her work.
Leave a ReplyCancel reply