When your child hurts you...

Words from a friend: When your child hurts you, don't take revenge. Don't be snide, don't be sarcastic, don't put them down. Don't be cruel. The hurt will last a lifetime. You are not their equal in all respects. There is no "an eye for an eye" in parenting. 

You are the one they look up to. We are supposed to teach them, support them, and correct them, and most of all, love them. 

Not crush them or beat them into submission, nor fight bitter feuds with them. We are the ones that set the example. We are the ones who have the power to de-escalate whilst still teaching valuable lessons. We are also the ones who have the power to kill the spark of joy and innocence that keeps them going. 

I know a child can say things or act in ways that can stab through the deepest core of your soul. We do not retalliate. We find a way to teach them that their behaviour was wrong and hurtful. 

Every child makes mistakes and every parent makes mistakes. We all lose our cool sometimes, too. 

We are all learning.