But when she entered junior high, her grades plummeted. Her mother knows she can do the work, but Felisha won't try. And as her grades drop, Mom notices that her daughter is hanging out with a faster crowd of girls. Kids like Jessica, John and Felisha and their parents have come through my office, where I have been a counselor for 13 years. As I talked to the children, I discovered they all had one thing in common anger.
Unmanaged anger can ruin a child's life.
Our challenge as parents is to help our kids learn how to manage their anger before they leave our homes. Children become angry when they perceive a situation or person as frustrating, threatening or hurtful. But unlike adults, children do not have the power or autonomy to make needed changes. That is why children can become angry after losing or never getting to know the other parent. They cannot change a hurtful situation, so they retaliate by waving their fists at God and those closest to them.