When someone cries, we feel the need to comfort them and to hold them as they cry.
Lean into that. Don’t force a child not to express their emotions.
How beautiful is our design… crying is an invitation to release pain and hurt… and heal.
Every time our child cries, it’s an invitation to help them heal their pain, no matter how significant or insignificant it may seem to us.
It’s uncomfortable to hear someone cry… but that’s exactly what is it. They are in discomfort. It’s an outward expression of what they are feeling inside.
Crying isn’t the problem. Crying is the healing. Crying isn’t bad for the health. Suppressing emotions and grief and hurt that wants to be released is bad for the health.
To a child, tripping and falling might be the worst physical pain they’ve ever experienced in their life.
Losing their favorite toy might be the worst emotional pain they’ve experienced in their life.
Just because it doesn’t seem big or important to us, doesn’t mean that it’s not big or important to them.
Let your child cry until they feel healed.
Support them as they heal. Hold them as they heal.
No more shushing. No more “stop crying”.
Instead, “let me hold you as you heal”. “Release the hurt and pain”. “I’m a safe place for you to share your hurt with.” I’m honored you feel comfortable around me to express your vulnerabilities.” “You’re going to feel so good after you release all of that hurt and pain.”
Let’s raise a generation that expresses their emotions and heals from their hurt… right there and then, instead of suppressing it over and over again until it no longer can be hidden and wreaks havoc on the health.
