My Child Saw Me Cry
In the hush of private moment, you were sitting in a quiet and silent place gazing towards window where sun stretched warm fingers, catching dust motes in their golden light and you lost in your thoughts in this moment and You found yourself suddenly and unexpectedly overwhelmed by thousands of thoughts and overload of emotions, tears wants to come out by your eyes and then you broke down and tears started rolling down your cheeks and you started crying, lost in the moment by thoughts and cognitive overload and then,
A tiny voice broke the silence and you heard a sentence “Mom why are you crying?” “What happened to you?” It was the moment where your child saw you crying and you control your emotions by hiding tears from your little cute child and you started thinking that my child saw me cry,
How to handle the situation appropriately? How can I explain my emotions to my child in a way they can understand and feel supported?
This is an unexpected twist in your otherwise ordinary day that unlock deep and meaningful profound conversation about emotions, problems, empathy and the unexpected lessons that you learn from your little ones.
Is It Ok For My Child To See Me Cry?
Absolutely the answer is Yessss
It’s ok for children to see their parents cry. By this you are showing your emotions like sadness, anger, frustration, and this teaches childrens that it’s normal to have feelings and it’s ok and to express them.
It can also help them to learn emotions, empathy and they can understand that everyone, including their parents experiences emotions.
However it’s necessary to reassure your children that you are fine and give them age appropriate explaination for your emotions and reason for crying to help them feel secure and supported.
Here are some easy and useful details you cane share with your child depending on your child’s age:
1. Preschool child:
“Mommy feels a little sad today, but I will be okay. Would you like to play with me?
2. School aged child:
“My dear I had a tough day at work place, that’s why I was crying, but I am happy to be home with you. Can we talk about it later and talk other things now?
3. Teenager:
“life can be tough sometimes, even for those those who grown up. I am feeling overwhelmed today, but I am working on it to resolve ASAP”.
Remember open and clear communication and emotional honesty are the key.
By sharing your tears with your child, you are not showing weakness or something bad, you are showing them the strength in takes to be vulnerable and the importance of connecting to each other on a Deep level.
Tips for handling the situation:
• Explain to them simply
Give them explanation according to their age and understanding.
Reassure and make them normalised:
Let them know that you’re okay and you love them.
• Offer comfortable environment
Give them a hug and sit with them if required.
• Be yourself and don’t try to hide emotions
Don’t try to hide your emotions, it’s okay to be genuine and let emotion comes out.
Remember, it’s not about being perfect, it’s about building a healthy and open relationship with your child.
Effects of crying in front of toddler:
Seeing you cry can be confusing for your cute toddler, but it’s also an opportunity for them to learn emotions from you.
Here I have listed possible positive and negative impact of crying in front of your child.
Positive effects:
Show them it’s okay to feel sad: Seeing you cry can helps your toddler to understand that everyone feels different different emotions, not just happiness. It normalizes sadness and shows them it’s ok to express it.
Builds trust and connection between you and your child: When you share your feelings openly to your child, it makes your bond strong. Your toddler can learn that they can trust you with their own big feelings too.
Teaches them empathy: Talk about why you’re sad helps your toddler to develop empathy and understand that your tears aren’t about them. This build kindness.
Possible negative effects:
Confusion and worry: Toddlers may not understand why you crying, which can cofuse or worry them. It’s important to reassure them you are okay and you love them.
Copying you to express their feelings: Some toddlers may mimic your cry, thinking it’s the way to deal with their own emotions. Gently guide them to express their feelings in other ways, like talking or writing.
