Eleanor wanted to play family among us, and she was very insistent about it, and anyway now she's been crying for five minutes about how she is never the imposter.

She is very tired. I gave her big firm hugs after asking her if she wanted a cuddle. I said I am sorry she is frustrated, and it is upsetting when things don't work out how we would like them to, and that being very tired makes Big Feelings even harder.

Lots of firm back rubs and big squeezing hugs until her breathing evened out, and she smooshed her little tear streaked face in to mine, and said she had just really wanted to play because her best friend wasn't at school today.

And then insert all these other kids were playing games she didn't want to play, so she just sat on the playground (here she mimicked staring forlornly into the distance). So the lack of imposterdem was the triggering issue, but the underlying issue was feeling left out.

So more big cuddles, a discussion about who loved who more (me or her, back and forth). Then some funny faces and giggles, and now she's off to bed so T can read her a story.

Anyway, the point of this thread is that tiny humans are indeed tiny humans, and as they get older it isn't as simple as hungry/tired being the triggers for feelings explosions. It can be tough to hold space and model regulation, and I don't always get it right, but I am trying.