From the heart,

Peace at Home April 2, 2020 | admin

at a time that matters most

This is a shout out to my daughter, Andrea Grace Freeman. Pictured here is Pirate Patty. Also pictured are my granddaughter, Violet, and me. You can see that we really like each other. Yesterday while I was trying to engage with Violet on FaceTime, I pulled out Pirate Patty who is a friend of Violet’s. In contrast to the effect I hoped to have, Violet burst into tears and said she wanted the doll right this minute and she just started to weep in a way that was not the usual “I want it now” kind of crying. It was a soulful, teary breakdown. Her mom appeared and leaned her head against Violet’s and said, “Oh, you miss your Nana, don’t you.” Violet wailed, “I want to go to Nana’s house.” It was hard to tell who was sadder – Violet or me. And what really touched me was the way that Andrea, who tries to use my visits with Violet to catch up on the very demanding job she is trying to do at home, quickly sensed that this crying wasn’t just annoyance and quickly provided what professionals call “co-regulation.” She simply connected physically in a comforting way and with a soothing voice acknowledged her overwhelmed daughter’s emotions. Violet’s distress escalated for a few moments – even I was beginning to feel hopeless – and then she started to calm down. Mom walked with Violet to her room to find her other mermaid doll and we proceeded to have a good 10 minutes of fun and laughter with mermaid sisters being silly with each other. When I told my husband the story, he said Andrea has that “third eye” – being able to tune into the feelings under the feelings. It is probably our biggest challenge during these difficult times to be able to acknowledge our own distress and manage it enough to tune into the emotions of our children…and bring presence, acceptance and soothing to their difficulties. I guess this is a shout out to all the moms and dads who are juggling new challenges and attuning to their little ones at the same time. Thank you. Thank you.

For more parenting support, please join us for an Upcoming Live Class  or browse our Catalog of Recorded Content including Quick Video Solution Libraries with handouts.  Questions? Email us at Solutions@Peaceathomeparenting.com   

TOPICS

Related Posts

Peace at Home

To Whom do Children Belong?

In a recent CNN Townhall, a young trans person named Niko from Arlington, VA asked the current governor

Peace at HomeMay 15 , 2023
Peace at Home

Back To Basics: Peace At Home Principles to

Post-pandemic life has left most parents feeling stressed and overwhelmed. You may try to figure out shortcuts that

Peace at HomeMay 15 , 2023
Peace at Home

A Gift For Yourself This Mother’s Day: Practical

It’s no secret that moms need to practice self care. You hear it all the time—you can’t pour

Peace at HomeMay 10 , 2023
Peace at Home

Protect Your Child’s Mental Health: Recognize When They Need

The world we live in is increasingly complex and can be difficult to navigate for anyone, especially for

Peace at HomeApril 24 , 2023
Peace at Home

Moms and Mental Health: Put Your Oxygen Mask

It’s no secret that moms often take on the mental load for the whole family, putting the needs

Peace at HomeApril 18 , 2023
Peace at Home

School Shootings: What Now? 

In the wake of yet another horrific school shooting, you are likely having a variety of emotions. Stress,

Peace at HomeApril 03 , 2023

Join our mailing lists for more parenting tips

Peace at Home