Setting Expectations for our Kids even When they’re Hurting
Ask Amy: When We Hurt for Our Kids
by Amy Egan
It may be impossible not to hurt when our kids are hurting, but maybe just being aware when we experience it would be helpful. There is almost nothing more painful than watching our kids hurt: most of the time we’d rather do their suffering for them. I am sure it is the “Mama Bear instinct” that takes hold of us when we see our kids in any kind of pain – whether it is physical or emotional, and whether they are the cause of their pain or not at fault.
There are situations when their pain needs to be our business – and there are also plenty of situations where their concerns need to be their own. The focus of this article is not about whether to step in: it is about bringing to light the serious ramifications we can create simply by approaching the child’s concerns with our own perspectives.
