“A child’s sense of secure attachment – this idea that I, in all my glory, as well as all my stinkiness and imperfection, am loved and accepted – allows him not only to take risks in the world but also to take risks with his own emotions. Knowing he will not be invalidated, rejected, punished, or shamed for feeling whatever he feels, he can test out sadness, happiness, or anger and figure out how to manage or respond to each of these emotions in turn.”