Context Changes Meaning

The same behavior can mean opposite things. A child who goes quiet may be content after a good day — or shutting down after a hard one. Whining before dinner is usually hunger, not defiance.

Reading the feeling does not mean allowing every action. You can accept the emotion while still holding the limit. "You're really angry that we have to leave — and we still can't throw toys." The child hears that the feeling is allowed even though the behavior is not.