---
title: "3 Intensity Quotes By Mary Sheedy Kurcinka"
description: "3 Intensity quotes by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka. Plus more from Mary Sheedy Kurcinka and more Intensity sayings from other authors."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d3/mary-sheedy-kurcinka-17820_ask-for-help_intensity-a-summary-intensity-is-the-dri_1093017.jpg"
---

> [“INTENSITY A Summary Intensity is the driving force behind the strong reactions of the spirited child. It is the invisible punch that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/intensity-a-summary-intensity-is-the-driving-force-behind-the-strong/)

[Mary Sheedy Kurcinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d3/mary-sheedy-kurcinka-17820_ask-for-help_intensity-a-summary-intensity-is-the-dri_1093017.jpg)

> [“Managed well, intensity adds flavor and excitement to our lives. It’s the trait that allows our spirited children to be animated, vivacious,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/managed-well-intensity-adds-flavor-and-excitement-to-our-lives-it-s/)

[Mary Sheedy Kurcinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c8/mary-sheedy-kurcinka-17820_child_managed-well-intensity-adds-flavor-and-e_2956028.jpg)

> [“Children learn best from the adults they love. They watch carefully to see how you handle your strong emotions. Most of us,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/children-learn-best-from-the-adults-they-love-they-watch-carefully-to/)

[Mary Sheedy Kurcinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01e/mary-sheedy-kurcinka-17820_child_children-learn-best-from-the-adults-they_2982785.jpg)

## Other authors on Intensity

- [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b022/author-sunday-adelaja-87912.jpg) Sunday Adelaja 31 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intensity/sunday-adelaja/)
- [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b010/author-frederick-lenz-36205.jpg) Frederick Lenz 8 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intensity/frederick-lenz/)
- [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b005/author-bertrand-russell-17477.jpg) Bertrand Russell 8 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intensity/bertrand-russell/)
- [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b024/author-virginia-woolf-93906.jpg) Virginia Woolf 7 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intensity/virginia-woolf/)
- [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b020/author-rajneesh-77002.jpg) Rajneesh 6 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intensity/rajneesh/)
- [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b011/author-henry-rollins-41662.jpg) Henry Rollins 6 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intensity/henry-rollins/)

## More by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka

> [“2. PERSISTENCE: If an idea or an activity is important to them, spirited children can “lock” right in. They are committed to their task,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/2-persistence-if-an-idea-or-an-activity-is-important-to-them-spirited/)

[Mary Sheedy Kurcinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/)

> [“8. FIRST REACTION: A quick withdrawal from anything new is typical of many spirited kids. Any unfamiliar idea, thing, place, or person may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/8-first-reaction-a-quick-withdrawal-from-anything-new-is-typical-of/)

[Mary Sheedy Kurcinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/)

> [“When you’re in the middle and stuck, you need to know when to back out and call for help. If that person is someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/when-you-re-in-the-middle-and-stuck-you-need-to-know-when-to-back-out/)

[Mary Sheedy Kurcinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/)

> [“It almost seems un-American, at times, to have kids who are slow to warm up. Other people tell us to push them—to force them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/it-almost-seems-un-american-at-times-to-have-kids-who-are-slow-to/)

[Mary Sheedy Kurcinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/)

> [“9. MOOD: The world is a serious place for some spirited kids. They’re analytical, meticulously reviewing experiences, finding the flaws, and making suggestions for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/9-mood-the-world-is-a-serious-place-for-some-spirited-kids-they-re/)

[Mary Sheedy Kurcinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/)

> [“I’m not sure if it was the despondent look in a parent’s big brown eyes and the hopeless shake of her head or if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/i-m-not-sure-if-it-was-the-despondent-look-in-a-parent-s-big-brown/)

[Mary Sheedy Kurcinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/)

> [“6. REGULARITY: Figuring out when they will sleep or eat is a daily puzzle for parents of spirited children who are irregular. It seems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/6-regularity-figuring-out-when-they-will-sleep-or-eat-is-a-daily/)

[Mary Sheedy Kurcinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/)

> [“INTENSITY A Summary Intensity is the driving force behind the strong reactions of the spirited child. It is the invisible punch that makes every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/intensity-a-summary-intensity-is-the-driving-force-behind-the-strong/)

[Mary Sheedy Kurcinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/)

> [“7. ENERGY: The tales of spirited kids I hear from parents are truly amazing, like that of the two-week old baby that “crawled” the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/7-energy-the-tales-of-spirited-kids-i-hear-from-parents-are-truly/)

[Mary Sheedy Kurcinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/)

> [“Words control the impulses; without them children have no protective devices to slow their reactions. Frequently I am asked, “Aren’t you just begging for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/words-control-the-impulses-without-them-children-have-no-protective/)

[Mary Sheedy Kurcinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/)

> [“2. You did not make your child spirited. There is a genetic factor to being spirited, but how one’s genes are expressed is significantly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/2-you-did-not-make-your-child-spirited-there-is-a-genetic-factor-to/)

[Mary Sheedy Kurcinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/)

> [“A Credo for Parents of Spirited Children 1. You’re not alone. According to the personality research 10 to 15 percent of all children living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/a-credo-for-parents-of-spirited-children-1-you-re-not-alone-according/)

[Mary Sheedy Kurcinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/)

> [“4. You have permission to take care of yourself. Your own need for sleep, quiet, uninterrupted adult conversation, lovemaking, a leisurely bath, a walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/4-you-have-permission-to-take-care-of-yourself-your-own-need-for/)

[Mary Sheedy Kurcinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/)

> [“And while the temperamentally active child will always be an energetic individual, how that looks can change over time. With guidance from you, your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/and-while-the-temperamentally-active-child-will-always-be-an/)

[Mary Sheedy Kurcinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/)

> [“You Do Make a Difference But biology is not destiny. What we now know is that nature and nurture matter. How your child’s temperament…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/you-do-make-a-difference-but-biology-is-not-destiny-what-we-now-know/)

[Mary Sheedy Kurcinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/)

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                        "text": "“INTENSITY A Summary Intensity is the driving force behind the strong reactions of the spirited child. It is the invisible punch that makes every response of the spirited child immediate and strong. Managed well, intensity allows spirited children a depth and delight of emotion rarely experienced by others. Its potential to create as well as wreak havoc, however, makes it one of the most challenging temperamental traits to learn to manage. Intense spirited kids need to hear: You do everything with zest, vim, vigor, and gusto. You are enthusiastic, expressive, and full of energy. Your intensity can make you a great athlete, leader, performer, etc. Things can frustrate you easily. Being intense does not mean being aggressive. Teaching tips: Help your child learn to notice her growing intensity before it overwhelms her. Provide activities that soothe and calm, such as warm baths, stories, and quiet imaginative play. Use humor to diffuse intense reactions. Protect her sleep. Make time for exercise. Teach your child that time-out is a way to calm herself. If you are intense too: Do not fear your child’s intensity. Diffuse your own intensity before you step in to help your child. Take deep breaths, step away from the situation, get the sleep you need, or ask for help to cope with your own intensity. Review in your own mind the messages you were given about intensity. Dump those that negate the value of intensity or leave you feeling powerless.”",
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