Hi everyone,
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how hard it is to raise children without leaving some kind of emotional mark on them — even when we’re trying our absolute best. And I have been trying my best and miserably failing.
We all have moments when we shout, say no to things that feel important to them, or get too caught up in our own thoughts to really listen, maybe compare them unknowingly or uphold them to an unrealistic standard. Even small things can stick with children in ways we don’t realise.
It makes me wonder… are we meant to aim for “no trauma” at all, or is that unrealistic? Maybe part of being human is that everyone gets shaped (and sometimes strengthened) by the rough edges of their experiences?
Someone once said we’re built by our trauma and if you took all of it away, we might not even be the same people. I find that idea both comforting and a bit sad at the same time.
What do you think? Is it possible to bring up children without causing any trauma? I desperately wish my children stick around when they grow up but sometimes I wonder if what I’m doing is really enough.