As my three-year-old daughter and I set out for our morning walk around the neighborhood, my husband and our older daughter took our dog for a longer hike. This has become a comforting routine during these unpredictable times.
Dressed in her adorable fairy outfit, my daughter held my hand, her face lighting up with joy as the sun warmed us. “What should we talk about?” I inquired.
With her large, expressive eyes gazing up at me, she declared, “Mommy, sometimes we have to cry.” Her statement caught me off guard, yet it resonated deeply. As we walked along, she stopped to pick flowers, inhaling their scents one by one. It struck me how insightful her words were, especially considering the emotional rollercoaster we’ve been riding lately.
“Why do you think we need to cry sometimes?” I asked her.
“Because, Mommy, it’s inside us, and we have to let it out,” she replied, handing me a freshly picked flower.
As the day unfolded, I quickly found myself back on that emotional rollercoaster. I struggled to remain grounded, often feeling overwhelmed by worries about the future and nostalgia for the past. My husband’s actions seemed to irritate me, and I felt like my daughters were ignoring my requests.
Later that evening, after the kids were asleep, I noticed my muscles tensing up. I was trying to solve the puzzle of my discomfort while avoiding the truth: I was feeling genuinely sad. I concocted a list of distractions, from losing weight to revamping my hairstyle, aiming to escape the feelings that weighed me down.
In the midst of my frantic brainstorming, a soft voice within me suggested, “What if you just let yourself feel it? Remember what your daughter said about crying?”
Her wisdom hit me hard, as it often does when children share their truth. Crying is an instinct, a part of what makes us human. Yet, I often shy away from this natural response. I think about how I embrace my children’s tears and wonder why I can’t extend that same compassion to myself.
As I allowed my protective barriers to crumble, the tears began to flow. In that moment, I reflected on all the reasons my daughter so insightfully described: sometimes we cry because our emotions become too overwhelming and need release, or because life’s challenges can feel insurmountable. We cry to move forward, to find clarity, and to lift our spirits.
It’s perfectly okay to let the tears flow, especially during these trying times. While I don’t want to be consumed by them, embracing my emotions allows me to be present and recognize the beauty around me.
For more insights on navigating these emotional experiences, check out other articles on our site, like this one about the importance of self-care.
To further explore the topic of emotional well-being, this resource offers valuable information. If you’re interested in understanding more about the intersection of emotional health and family planning, you might find it helpful to visit this site as well.
In summary, our emotions are a fundamental part of being human, and sometimes we must allow ourselves to cry. Whether it’s to release overwhelming feelings or to find clarity, tears can be a path to healing and self-acceptance.