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| Practical Ways to Help Hurting Children and Teens in Times of Hurt |  |
| Location: Blogs Leanne's Blog |
 | | Posted by: Leanne | 10/9/2007 5:39 PM | As parents and grandparents we have been given a huge responsibility to care for our children physically and emotionally. While caring physically for our children can be a huge concern, it is often the times when our children and teens hurt emotionally that cause us the most fear. We often ask, "How can I handle this?" "Am I enough?" After 25 years of working with hurting kids and teens, here is what I can tell you...
First of all...you are enough! Your love, your care and support are the very things your child needs. You are enough!!!!!! But in case you are still worried, here are some ideas to help you help your child:
*Listen to your child with your heart as well as your ears. Try to understand what they are feeling instead of simply what their words are saying. For example, if your child comes to you and says, "I hate my teacher," they might really hate their teacher, or they might really be saying, "I am afraid that I am going to fail math and disappoint you!" Don't tell them what you "think they really mean," though, just ask questions that help them clarify in their own mind what it is they are trying to say.
*Encourage your child to use symbolic tools to express themselves. Sometimes when we are upset and overwhelmed, words are not enough. They don't seem to capture what we are feeling. But symbols do. So encourage your child to use the Holy Listening Stones, the Spiritual Sandbox and the Drawing Pad (Found in the "Prayground" on this site) to express themselves.
*Be quiet and trust that your child is very wise and can find their own solutions. Try not to offer YOUR solution, but allow them, through expressing themselves and being heard, to find their OWN solution! That is very empowering!!
*And pray...pray hard, not for what you want for your child, but for God to be powerfully present with your child as he or she grows, learns from and finds strength and wisdom during this difficult time.
With God's help and your love and listening skills, your child will find the comfort, care, support and strength they need to survive this difficult time of their life. And remember...you are the one they trust most and you are enough!!
Thank you for being there during the times when your child needs you most!
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