Edith Ann, you are an American! This country could never had been started if we had not had bad tempers. That is what revolution is for. Sometimes a bad temper is a very good thing. I don’t know that King George cared very much either, come to think about it.

Sometimes when people want you to control your temper, they are really just saying, stop yelling at me. Other times they are right; you can wear yourself out with all that frowning. You have to learn to pace yourself.

Edith Ann, Edith Ann, because you are Edith Ann, I don’t see your crummy stuff, just the good. No worries and love!

Edith Ann, I don’t understand what is the matter with all these grownups. My Mommy and I got on the train in Galesburg and went to Chicago and then we went to Carson Pirie Scott and I wanted to play with all the stuff, but she wouldn’t let me touch anything and she wouldn’t let me touch anything in the train either and then we went to this place to have lunch and they didn’t have hot dogs so I got really mad and laid down on the floor and kicked my feet ad hit the floor with my hands and cried really loud and then Mommy carried me out of the restaurant and spanked me and when we got home she was really really mad and made me go to my room. So I cried and screamed and kicked the door for a long time and then I fell asleep and she told Daddy she would never ever ever go shopping with me again and that’s just fine with me. If people aren’t going to listen to you, you have to do SOMETHING, don’t you?

For several years, my kids controlled my temper. Now they’ve moved on and delegated control to the dogs.

Your aunts Lily and Jane had a friend named Molly Ivins who thought we should all go out into the street and throw a great big temper tantrum about this silly war. And believe me, your Aunt Lily knows how to get pissed off! So I think we should all do what Molly Ivins said and go out in the street and throw a great big temper tantrum. If we all go at the same time, then they can’t send all of us to our rooms.

Dear Edith Ann, I care why you are angry.
To feel angry is very human. Everyone feels angy at some time or at someone. That is very normal.
It is important to use your words to let someone know you are angry and why. People don’t always know what your frown means. It is important to express your feelings so that they don’t stay inside you, making you feel all sick inside.
Maybe what your Mom means by controlling your temper, is that you need to find a way to express your anger, that is not harmful to yourself or to others. You can learn to say what you are feeling without having a tantrum.
I sort of disagree with Grandmom though. Sometimes it is important to remember and never forget. That, may one day, keep you safe.
Forgiving is not easy. Lots of people can tell you what forgiving isn’t, but not as many seem to know what it is. I am much older than you and I am still learning about forgiveness.
Today I am thinking that forgiveness is like when you think somebody owes you something. Maybe they do owe you something for what they have done to upset you. Maybe it is just saying, “I’m sorry, Edith Ann.” That can make all the hurt go away because it means that they heard what you said and that they care about you and they don’t want you to be angry with them anymore.
What is very sad is that sometimes “I’m sorry” just isn’t enough. When that is how you feel, you must make a choice. The choice is to stay angry, which gets us back to feeling all sick inside, or to decide that there will never be enough “I’m sorry” because what made you so angry to begin with is just so very, very bad. When that happens, the choice you have, is to let go of your expectation for a big enough “I’m sorry” and to move on. If you always remember how very sad you became, you can learn to not hurt others, making them all angry and sad inside. That is a very big lesson to learn.
I know that you are a very bright girl and you will learn to make the right choice at the right time.

You’re the dearest Kid. Even spittin’ mad. I’d care if you were mad at me. I’d really listen to why. I’d like to hear all the things you’re mad about. I wish you’d throw a fit. I’d draw up a chair. xo

Dear sweet Edith Ann;I get very mad also. See I go to 7 doctors, because I am very sick. I get so mad that I cry so hard,then I hit my pillow over and over and I stomp my feet. Finally I am so tiered of throwing a fit that I come on-line and talk to my friends at Wow. They remind me that they care and want to know why I am so mad. They remind me that the doctors are trying to help me but maybe I have to have Faith. (that is when you believe in god and yourself) Then we talk and they make me feel like they care and help me understand how lucky I am. They remind me that I have a good family and lots of friends here on Wow. After we talk I start to feel better and full of Love…………………Thank-You to all of mt friends. So Edith Ann you go ahead and get mad. Just make sure you do not hurt yourself or anybody else. Cry,hit your pillow, yell real loud. Then go and find a friend or your Mommy and talk to that person.
Take care Edith Ann and stay health and safe and happy…….Love you !!!!!