All About Forgiveness

All About Forgiveness

Author: Eileen Kennedy-Moore, PhD, author, psychologist, focusing on children's feelings, children's friendships, parenting, mental health. June 15, 2024 Duration: 5:24

Ep. 62 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: How to forgive friends who have hurt us.

When a friend says or does something that hurts us, it’s easy to get stuck in self-righteous bitterness and resentment. But for our own sake, as much as theirs, we need to find ways to forgive them and move past those unavoidable friendship rough spots.

Scroll down for discussion questions.

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SUBMIT A QUESTION TO DR. FRIENDTASTIC at https://DrFriendtastic.com/submit (Obviously, this is not psychotherapy, and it’s not for emergency situations.)

For an easy-to-read TRANSCRIPT, go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/

Like the podcast? Check out my books and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com.

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*** DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

Think of a time when you’ve forgiven someone for doing something that hurt or upset you. What happened? Why did you decide to forgive them?

Dr. Friendtastic said, “Holding onto bitterness and resentment hurts us more than anyone else.” What does that mean?

How is forgiving someone different than letting someone be mean to you? (Hint: It has to do with how you think about them and what you say to them.)

One of the forgiveness guidelines Dr. Friendtastic mentioned is: If it happened more than a month ago, definitely let it go! Do you agree with that guideline? Why or why not? 

Why is it sometimes easier to forgive other people than to forgive ourselves?

*** You might also like these podcast episodes:

Ep. 59 - Jessie, Age 13: Get rid of toxic friends? https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/kids-ask-dr-friendtastic-ep59-jessie-age-13

Ep. 43 - Beatrix, Age 8: Friend cut her hair! https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/beatrix-age-8-friend-cuts-her-hair

Ep. 14 - Rowan, Age 12: Feeling guilty, wanting to make up with a friend https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/kids-ask-dr-friendtastic-ep-14-rowan



Get full access to Dr. Friendtastic for Parents at drfriendtastic.substack.com/subscribe

In Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Friendship Advice for Kids (K-8), real children from kindergarten through eighth grade send in their questions about the tricky, wonderful, and sometimes confusing world of friendships. Each week, Dr. Eileen Kennedy-Moore-a clinical psychologist and author known as Dr. Friendtastic-responds with a thoughtful, practical answer designed just for young listeners. The conversations in this podcast get straight to the heart of what kids experience: navigating arguments, feeling left out, trying to make a new friend, or figuring out how to be a good one themselves. Eileen Kennedy-Moore draws on her deep expertise in children's feelings and social development to offer actionable advice that respects a child's perspective. The format is brief and engaging, with each episode lasting about five minutes, making it an easy listen for a car ride or quiet moment. This isn't about lectures; it's about giving kids the tools and confidence to handle social situations with kindness and resilience. Parents and educators often find the discussions helpful, too, as the podcast naturally opens doors for deeper conversations about emotions and relationships. By focusing on real questions from real kids, the podcast creates a genuine connection, assuring young listeners that their friendship worries are normal and solvable. Tune in weekly to hear compassionate guidance that turns everyday social puzzles into opportunities for growth and connection.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Friendship Advice for Kids (K-8)
Podcast Episodes
How to express your feelings with friends (Aida, Age 5) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:05
Ep. 102 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Why both negative and positive feelings help us build strong friendshipsAida wants to know how to express her feelings with friends. Learn tips for what is most likely to get a good r…
How to make friends with a new classmate (Adeline, Age 7) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:37
Ep. 101 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Finding the "just-right" level of friendliness | Friendship advice for kidsAdeline wants to know how to help a news classmate, but she’s also concerned about coming on too strong and…
Celebrating Episode 100!!! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:38
Ep. 100 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Hear what kids have learned from 100 episodes of friendship advice for kidsFREE quiz: Is Your Child a Good Friend? https://eileenkennedymoore.ck.page/e37dcc098fWould YOUR KID like to…
Best friend makes a big mistake! (Rosetta, Age 5) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:19
Ep. 99 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: What happens after a friend does something mean? | Friendship advice for kidsRosetta wants to know what to do when the girl she considers her best friend does something seriously unkin…
How to join a group when not everyone wants you in (Jessica, Age 9) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:59
Ep. 98 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Friendship group drama | Friendship advice for kidsJessica wants to join a friend group, not not everyone is welcoming.FREE quiz: Is Your Child a Good Friend? https://eileenkennedymoor…
How and why to understand a friend’s feelings (Zoya, Age 7) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:00
Ep. 97 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: The platinum rule | Friendship advice for kidsZoya wants to know how to understand her friends' feelings. FREE quiz: Is Your Child a Good Friend? https://eileenkennedymoore.ck.page/e37…
Dealing with a Bossy Friend (Grace, Age 9) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:45
Ep. 96 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Moving past a Yes-No argumentGrace's friend sometimes bosses her around! What can she do?FREE quiz: Is Your Child a Good Friend? https://eileenkennedymoore.ck.page/e37dcc098fWould YOUR…
Handling embarrassing moments (Sara, Age 7) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:18
Ep. 95 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: 3 types of embarrassmentSara wishes she could never feel embarrassed!FREE quiz: Is Your Child a Good Friend? https://eileenkennedymoore.ck.page/e37dcc098fWould YOUR KID like to be feat…
Before you confront a friend | Friendship advice for kids [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:01
Ep. 94 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Two questions to ask yourself before discussing a problem with a friend.FREE quiz: Is Your Child a Good Friend? https://eileenkennedymoore.ck.page/e37dcc098fWould YOUR KID like to be f…
Not invited to a party! (Alice, Age 6) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:04
Ep. 94 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: What we can control and what we can’tAlice wonders what to do when her good friend doesn't invite her to a party.FREE quiz: Is Your Child a Good Friend? https://eileenkennedymoore.ck.p…