I've spent thousands of dollars and years in therapy because I was raised with the ethos of "Don't come to me unless you are bleeding" and "Why are you crying? You are crying for no reason." What that ethos led me to believe is that ALL emotions are irrational. So, I have a really hard time feeling empathy for others or being capable of putting myself in others' shoes in my adult relationships. Because in my head I'm thinking, "What's the big deal? Why is <partner> so worried about something that matters so little? She's crying for no reason."

That's why it's important to affirm your toddler's emotions. Even when it seems like a trivial event to you, their feelings and emotions about that trivial event are anything but trivial. And teaching them that feeling their feelings is silly or irrational will instill that belief in them for the rest of their lives.

And many who grew up with parents affirming their emotions are also attending therapy. Perhaps, a bigger lesson would be that you are thinking the grass is always greener on the other side. You do seem capable of feeling empathy and you are thoughtful.