7 Questions To Ask Your Children Before It’s Too Late
The below questions are some very serious and yet interesting questions that I as a mother came across and decided I would ask my 7 and a half year old daughter.
- What makes you the happiest?
- What do you think about a lot?
- How do you feel around me most of the time?
- Is there anything about the world or people you want to understand?
- What’s your favorite memory with our family?
- Is there anything that you want to learn about together?
- Is there anything you are worried or stressed about?
The question that stuck out the most to me was the question “Is there anything that you are worried or stressed about?” Her answer was the beginning of the path that were are now embarking on.
My daughter was a part of a school lockdown last year as a first grader. The lockdown lasted 1 hour and 30 minutes and was due to gunshots heard in the area. Turns out it was a false alarm, but it left an impression on my child that I wasn’t aware of until I was prompted to ask this question several months later during her second-grade year.
When I asked her the question, I didn’t specifically ask at any location (ie, home, school or otherwise). I only asked this in a general speaking manner. The answer is what broke my heart!!
Her Answer:
Without hesitation, after being asked simply, my baby responded by saying: safety, lockdowns, shooters, and getting a point off for talking at [public] school.
Right then and there, it was absolutely clear to me (as my heart was in pieces) that I had to do what I needed to do to make this right. It is my job as a mother to protect. I began praying and researching everything I needed to come up with a solution.
There is absolutely no reason a 7-year-old should not feel safe. She should not have any stress at this age. Stress is a silent killer and can cause so many effects on our bodies. I wasn’t going to sit around and wait for it to get better or to pass. During my research, I found these health conditions are commonly caused or increased by stress:
Hypertension (high blood pressure)
Heart attacks and strokes
Diabetes
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
Skin conditions like eczema
Anxiety
Depression
Infertility
These conditions are what I have suffered from my whole life (minus the heart attack or stroke). The remaining have been an ongoing part of my life! I am 56 years old, getting most of the above symptoms (if not all of them) under control. And as the person God chose to be my child’s mother, I wasn’t going to allow these to hinder my child. Although I can’t avoid every single issue that stress can cause, I will attempt to help prevent them as much as possible.
And this question is what has led me, as a mom, caregiver, and overall protector for my only child (who I waited 29 years for), to make the decision to homeschool my daughter. Home is where she can always feel safe and know that I am there 24/7 to be the best I can be for her.
Talk to your children. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
They are little humans that depend on us as parents to help them, guide them, and grow them into healthy, happy, loving, and well-rounded adults.
My choice was my choice. You don’t have to make the same choice as I did, but you should always do what is right for your family. This was what was right for ours. The communication with your children is what is right for everyone. 💜
