The natural world has a rhythm. It moves through cycles, and we feel them in our bones—the shift of autumn leaves, the crisp bite of winter air, the promise of spring, and the warmth of summer. These transitions are a constant, grounding us in the knowledge that change is inevitable and necessary for us to carry on transforming. Yet, when it comes to our emotions, we often resist these cycles. We label feelings as “good” or “bad,” trying to hold on to the light of summer while fearing the darker winters of our mental health and the emotions that come along with it. But just like the seasons, our emotions need to be honoured, not only within ourselves but also alongside our children.

Becoming a mother has been my greatest teacher in understanding the importance of honouring emotions as part of our human experience. The raw and truthful expression of a child reminds me of the beauty in simply feeling without judgement and being joyful for the sake of joy. When we deny children the space to express their emotions, we teach them to fear the depth of their human-ness. But when we walk with them throughout each season, we empower them to navigate life’s ups and downs with authenticity.

This belief lies at the heart of my children’s book, The Seasons of Me. It is a story created to spark a deeper understanding of the emotional wilderness within us all.

Understanding Your Emotional Seasons

Our emotions move through cycles, often without our conscious awareness. A child’s frustration might be their inner winter, signalling a need for rest or reflection. Their joy might be a summer moment, fleeting yet bright. By recognising these seasons in ourselves and our children, we create a language of understanding.

However, modern life often disconnects us from these cycles. We’re conditioned to seek perpetual happiness, to fix emotions rather than feel them. This is particularly true for children, who are often told to “calm down” or “stop crying” when their emotions feel too big for the adults around them. But what if we approached their emotions as we do the changing seasons—not as something to control, but as something to witness, support, and express?

The Seasons of Me

The Seasons of Me was born from my desire to give children and families a way to explore emotions together, using the natural world as a guide. This book invites readers to journey through the seasons of emotions, showing how each one has its own place.

Through the warmth of summer happiness, the storms of autumn anger, the quiet of winter sadness, and the growth of spring hope, children learn that their emotions are not something to be fixed or feared. Instead, they’re something to be honoured, just as we honour the cycles of nature.

Writing this book was deeply personal. As someone who had to grow up fast, I didn’t have the tools to understand or express my feelings. It wasn’t until adulthood, as I began healing from my own emotional seasons, that I realised the power of uprooting our emotions.

Creating Safe Spaces for Emotional Expression

As parents, caregivers, or educators, it’s our role to create spaces where children feel safe to explore their emotional seasons. This doesn’t mean having all the answers or fixing every problem. Sometimes, it’s simply about being present—listening without judgement, offering a comforting word, or sitting in silence as they navigate their feelings.

When a child is angry, we can acknowledge their autumn storm without trying to blow it away. When they’re sad, we can sit with them in their winter, showing them that it’s okay to rest and feel. And when they’re joyful, we can celebrate their summer sunshine, knowing that these moments are precious and fleeting. By doing this, we teach them that all feelings are valid and that they have the tools to move through them.

The Seasons of Me encourages this kind of connection. It provides not only a story but also a starting point for conversations about emotions. The accompanying illustrations bring the seasons to life, helping children visualise and relate to their feelings. Families can use the book as a tool to share their own emotional experiences, creating a culture of openness and trust.

The Ripple Effect of Emotional Awareness

When we teach children to accept their emotions, we’re planting seeds for a future built on self-compassion. A child who understands their feelings becomes an adult who can navigate challenges with strength. They’re better equipped to form healthy relationships, set boundaries, and extend empathy to others.

The ripple effect doesn’t stop there. As we model emotional awareness for our children, we begin to heal our own inner child. The parts of us that were silenced, misunderstood, or dismissed can find safety in the spaces we create for the next generation.

A Call to Honour Your Seasons

I invite you to reflect on the seasons in your own life. What does your winter look like? Where do you find spring? How do you celebrate summer? What lessons does autumn bring? As you explore these questions, consider how you can share this journey with the children alongside you.

Through The Seasons of Me, my hope is that families will find not only a story but a shared connection to your inner and outer worlds. By learning about the power of the seasons, we can help children see their feelings as a natural and essential part of life. Together, we can create connections to the vast world living inside us and the natural world, so we can unearth who we truly are.

You can purchase The Seasons of Me on my website here, where you’ll also find resources to deepen your emotional connection as a family. Allow this nurturing mental health children’s book to be a starting point for your family—inspiring connections, creativity, and building resilience to the ever-changing seasons of your emotions.

What season are you in today? What season is your child experiencing? Know that it is possible to find a home within each one, where it gets wild, and in turn, will come back to balance once again. Together.