Processing Emotions – Encouraging Children’s Expression

Our sweet girl is our daily reminder of patience and time!

She joined our family not long after our sweet Pais passed January 2020. Before we had any idea what 2020 actually had in store for us. Honestly this sweet soul was meant for our family, for the Healing we would enter into and grow from in a very big way! She truly is our daughters cat, much like our fur boy loves his boy!

Although she has been with us for about 2 years, the ‘rescue’ in her still has trapped fears we continue to work and love her through.

Much like a person’s fear, as an emotion, needs to be processed as it can be trapped deep inside (anyone who has worked on personal healing knows this). Why it is truly so important to allow yourself (and if you are a parent, allowing your children and encouraging) emotional expression, feelings to process through words and actions vs being shut down or worse just blatenly ignored. Healing cannot be pushed, it can merely be felt.

On this day, allow yourself permission for time and patience for yourself to heal, whatever that means for you. Allow your children permission to feel their feelings and encourage them – not by putting your words in their mouth, no by encouraging them to use their words and navigate their feelings while supporting them in a safe place. It’s OK if more help is needed, sadly through the C shutdowns mental health support has been challenging to access… so for kids even just listening – asking them questions to allow them to explore their feelings. As their mom and fur mom, we want to “fix” things, but in my many years of momming I have learned over and over, I’m merely a guide in their lives, to help shape and direct, not dictate their lives to them.

Almost 2 years later, I still greet our girl Missy softly and calmly, I allow her time and space to come to me. We enjoy our morning snuggles, have a chat, most mornings She reminds me what’s up and then she returns to wait for her girl to get up. #loyaltyandlove

If you have ever questioned what true love is… look into the eyes of your pet! Whether it’s a dog, cat or bird, you will see it 😍

Then look in the mirror… do you see that same true love within yourself? 😬🪞🥰