Sometimes we doubt that our children understand everything that is happening in our country Venezuela, and that's why we bring you this example: a 2-year-old clearly records what happened during very difficult events such as tragedies, earthquakes, duels.
Our children when they are infants because of their evolutionary development do not know of structural failures or emergency protocols, it can even be difficult to fully understand the risks. But they realize that there are changes in their environment, they realize the mood of their parents, their brother, their closest family and based on that they also express themselves, and they do it clearly, I have lived it with my children and my grandchildren.
This is why it is key that we as parents and caregivers can self-regulate if we want our children to be able to properly process any experience of tragedy in our families. We regulate ourselves from the outside in order to be able to achieve it internally when we are adults.
Calling for calm is not saying to the other: “Shut up." It is to say to him: "Let me listen to you, I am here with you." Promoting a little faith does not mean denying reality or assuring that everything will be fine. It means offering a space so that the person can regain some coherence, get out of panic and make decisions with greater responsibility. That's urgent.
Those of us who live through a trauma, and also those of us who observe it from a distance, do not react in the same way. Many people in a state of shock respond in ways that we do not understand and we may think that they lack empathy. But this is not always the case.
Trauma, problems change the way a person thinks, feels and acts. Therefore, before judging, let us accompany those who have problems, difficulties, adversities.
And if we can't be there today, let's not beat ourselves up about it. Help the one who is helping.
Because when we support those who support others, we are also saving lives. More love, and less judgment... Life takes so many turns... We are what we leave in the hearts of others…
We know that these days have been difficult for many Venezuelan people outside and inside the country. There is fear, tiredness, uncertainty, concern for the family, for the house, for those who are far away and for everything that has not yet been completely processed.
Therefore, listening to our children in complex, difficult moments of family situation is key and understanding that the bond is one of the greatest protection tools we have to accompany our children, and learn not to repress emotions, in addition to being prepared to face any problem and adversity whatever the context.
It is at times like this that we most need to put into words the implosion we feel inside, and it is up to us to take care of each other and accompany each other. How much can our children understand in the face of an emergency?
Janitze 🌹
Separator made with Canva by @janitzearratia
Any images in this post are taken with my iPhone 12, the Infinix pro-note 30 or with the camera eighties Rolleiflex 2.8 f, and edited by me with Canva
Translation with |DeepL