‘Mad Isn’t Bad’ has lessons for all

By Charlotte Lankard Comments 0
Published: October 22, 2009

You want to explode. Your face feels hot. You breathe faster. Your heart beats faster. Your hands want to grab, hit or throw something. Your feet want to kick or run. Your voice wants to yell or cry.

This is how you explain what "mad” feels like to a child, says Michaelene Mundy, author of "Mad Isn’t Bad.” Mundy is an educator who has taught third- and fourth-graders, worked with learning-disabled children, served as a counselor on the college level and is a mother of three.

I like this book, written for children, because it is important for children to learn how to recognize anger so they can take responsibility for it and have ways to express it without hurting themselves, another person or destroying property.

There are choices. Children can throw a fit, or they can stay calm. Children can take immediate action or count to 10 (or 100) and think about what is the best thing to do or say. They can blame someone else for making them angry or be aware that they are the only one who can do something about it.

Not only does the author think mad isn’t bad, she says it can be good. It can be good when it makes people want to do something about a bad situation or when it gives people energy to work harder to solve a problem or helps people tell someone what’s bothering them so that people can work together to make it better.

Her book gives suggestions on healthy ways to handle anger, where to go for help and even talks about being mad at God. It tells what to do when someone is angry at you, and it also offers wise words about forgiveness.

This is a book for all parents, grandparents, teachers and caring adults to read and discuss with the children they live with or encounter.

Like many children’s books, it is useful for people of any age.

Charlotte Lankard, a licensed marriage and family therapist, is in private practice with Baptist Counseling Associates. Her Web site is www.charlottelankard.com.