Project "For Crying Out Loud" was inspired by parents in Seattle, New York, and Portland living in shared-wall dwellings who are concerned about their children being loud and upsetting the neighbors. The project epiphany came at 5:00am January, 16, 2009 after nursing my then 14-month old most of the night.  She sat screaming at my side as I said with an understanding tone, "mama's empty, no milk".  I became concerned about her cries waking the neighbors.  Then I imagined what it would be like if our neighbors and others knew the benefits of allowing children to cry without distraction or punishment. In that moment Project: For Crying Out Loud was born.  It since has grown into a vision to share the message of:  prevent stress for children by meeting their needs, meet their needs when they do cry, and when needed be CALM as they cry, rage, or tantrum. CALM stands for:

Crying is healthy

Add Understanding

Look in their eyes

Move close

Crying releases stress hormones and when we are empathetic with children they learn its ok to express emotion and can heal themselves from present hurts as well as from future traumas. 

To contribute in causing a community where all people know the benefits of being CALM with children when they cry.

To contribute in causing a community where children are free to be fully expressed in their anger, sadness, fear, and joy.

To contribute in causing a community where onlookers of a child crying, will see full expression of emotion, paired with an understanding listener, as beautiful.

Why?

 Children are capable of maintaining their "pure presence- their natural desire and ability for closeness, intimacy, cooperation, contribution, and simply the joy of living fully in the present moment".  

Marion Badenoch Rose, Aware Parent Instructor, Australia

Project For Crying Out Loud,  will create events, networks, and art to inspire people to be calm, empathetic, present, and connected when children express emotion.  This manifests when a child expresses joy, sadness, or anger and the adult(s) around them look at the child while thinking "I know how that is", affirming the experience "yes" and being available to hold the child whenever he or she is ready.  When this naturally happens, adults and children are content, satisfied, and fulfilled during and after intense emotional moments.  

Events

Who's In?