Being there for your kids - Are You on a Healing Journey?

Episode Date: May 20, 2023

Are you an "Ella?" She's a young mom caught up in a life she can't seem to escape. She has spent all of it preparing to die. In my brief article, I share the differences between preparing to die and preparing to live. Some minimal lifestyle changes can make a world of difference. Blessings, Jon

Hi, I'm Dr. John Robinson, and this is Teachable Moments. I want to ask you something today. Are you on a healing journey? We are all on a journey throughout our lifetime. The question is, what kind of journey? In our thoughts, behaviors, feelings, and lifestyle, we are either preparing to live or preparing to die. Life events can lift us up or beat us down as you create your own history. Our words to others can be a blessing or a burden. What path are you taking? on your journey. Ella had been on her PC at her work site all day as usual. Her boss had a presentation coming up and Ella was doing the prep work for it. She skipped her lunch to get ahead on her project. The deadline was coming up. She hadn't taken any breaks all day. When she found a migraine headache brewing and her eyes crossing at her workstation, she decided to call it a day. She was already an hour over closing time. Her 15-year-old daughter, Jenny met her at the front door.

Mama, I have this term paper due tomorrow, and I don't have any plastic folders. Can you take me to the store now? Ella sighed, put her coat up, and then turn to sit and read the mail. Mama, please, I really need this. Torn between acceding and firing back, Ella spontaneously fired back. Young lady, if you had been more prepared, you would have picked up this cover long ago. You've had this term paper due for a month. I've had a long day and have no time for this nonsense.

Jenny burst into tears. You never have time for me. She ran into her room and flung herself across her bed, continued crying. A few moments later, Ella came to her door and told her daughter to get a grip. She had asked her husband to run the errand with her, and they would have supper when they got back. Ella runs on empty like this most days. She looks forward to very little. She's glad this day is closing, but doesn't look forward.

forward to tomorrow because it seems like all her days are the same. She doesn't know it, but every day she's preparing to die. She feels beat down and her words are a burden to others. Let's help Ella turn this journey around. Ella got up this morning at 6 a.m. so she could meditate and exercise before arousing the troops and preparing for the day. When Jenny came down for breakfast, Ella reminded her daughter about her term paper and asked if she was fully prepared. She suggested to Jenny get a plastic cover at the school store sometime during the day. When she arrived to work, Ella's boss chirped at her about the presentation prep. She calmed her boss down, picked up where she left off on the project the day before. She paced herself to plan ahead for 10-minute break at 10.30,

lunch at noon, and another break at 3. Some of her coworkers and Ella enjoyed the bright, sunshiny day outside for their lunch break. On her arrival home, Ella found Jenny crying in her room. knocked on the door and asked if she could come in. They sat and talked about Jenny's boyfriend drama. She used active listening to help her daughter understand more about her feelings. Jenny was calmed, but she had delayed dinner to attend to her. So she asked Jenny to help her with dinner. After dinner, Jenny finished up the last of the term paper

and then texted her best friend to gossip before going to bed. In this second scenario, Ella's life and perspective is totally changed. She's calmer, more focused, more self-caring, which also puts herself in a better place to be there for her family and friends. She is preparing to live. When stuff happens, she doesn't get caught up in it. Rather, she focuses on her response to the stuff, that over which she has control. This perspective lifts the burdens placed upon her and gives her pause to be a blessing both to herself and to others. Which path do you choose?

Give yourself opportunity to take control. of your life. Nurture yourself to be the best that you can be to both yourself and to others. Let yours be a healing journey. If these comments stir questions of your own, contact me at my website www. www. Thereformykids.com or my email at John Robinson 0.0.Belsouth.net. I'm Dr. Jonathan C. Robinson, licensed clinical psychologist, and author of Teachable Moments Building Blocks of Christian Parenting, And this has been Teachable Moments. Teachable Moments, building blocks of Christian parenting, is available online at AmazonBooks.com and in local and national bookstores.

More on Dr. Robinson at TMP-I-N-C.com.