The other day my daughter came home from school and was incredibly upset. I pressed her for a couple of minutes as she slid down the wall looking like a girl who just didn’t care. I went and laid on the ground in front of her and told her she could always tell me anything then, trying to make her smile, I told her that most people don’t like Monday’s because more often than not things go wrong when it’s Monday. To which she replied, “I’m just having a bad day mom.” And tried to sound all tough, she is a tough little girl, but she is very scared of being vulnerable. She left that morning in high spirits ready to start her school week so clearly, I knew it wasn’t just a bad day. Her bad days start with an attitude walking out the front door haha. Anyway, after the attempt at a smile she said, “can I just help you?” I dropped the conversation and had her start helping with dinner, after she did a couple of things and started to feel better, she just started talking out of the blue about why she was upset. Apparently, a boy had been bullying her and hit her, (no I am not one of those moms who tells her that if a boy is being mean he likes her that is terrible behavior to enable a thinking process like that right lol.) she really doesn’t like being bullied, I mean what kid does? And she doesn’t like it when people touch her without her say so. At home one of our biggest rules is to not touch anyone without their permission. Due to my own past, I feel very strongly about people having permission to touch me which is why it is such a big rule in our home.
Anyways, the simplest of things, helping me with dinner made such an impact on her and completely changed her attitude around, she started dancing around and acting like herself in no time after she had told me what was wrong.
A lot of times when we are suffering, we wonder why we should talk to people about it, I mean what are they going to do about it ya know? But it isn’t about doing anything. It’s about the burden no longer being carried. It’s about letting go of that which ails you. This important for everyone. And when it comes to mental health this is something that is also an incredibly effective tool for coping with a mental illness. We won’t ever let go of our disorders but letting people into your mind gives you more acceptance of yourself, and helps you see that how you feel is completely valid. Because it is!
Best regards,
~TKNott~
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