Over the past 18 months, it is no secret that COVID has taken a toll emotionally on both the young and old. Experts were telling us over a year ago that we would soon be seeing a pandemic of a different kind in the area of mental health. Mental health has definitely been a struggle for so many people over the past year including an increasing amount of young children. We get calls weekly from parents of elementary, preteen, and teenage children struggling with unexplained sadness, moodiness, anxiety, and relational struggles.
WARNING SIGNS
As coaches, we’ve sadly seen their resilience diminish as children attempt to navigate the world around them. What used to be “no big deal” is now really hitting our kids hard causing melt downs, tantrums, or high levels of anxiety. This is true for one of our youngest clients, 10 year old Hallie who wanted to share her story to help other kids that may find themselves struggling like she did. First, listen to what Hallie’s mom was seeing this past spring and what led her to call Rock Solid Families. Maybe, as a parent, you are having the same concerns.
Near the end of fourth grade, I started noticing my daughter, Hallie, was coming home different after school. She just seemed sad. It was subtle, but as a mom you know when your child is ‘off’. She would share a little about her day when she first came home but by bedtime she would be spilling her guts. These night time conversations usually involved tears and feelings of being left out.
Hallie is a straight A student, plays soccer, dances, is involved in Girl Scouts and liked by just about everyone she meets. It was shocking to find out she was struggling with feelings of loneliness at school. Seeing her so sad I knew I had to do something to help her get back to her best self. Hallie agreed to talk with Linda at Rock Solid Families, and she opened up to her immediately. As we worked through a few sessions, Hallie took all of Linda’s advice to heart and put it into action at every opportunity.
I could see she was getting back to herself over the summer but was curious to see what the new school year would bring. This past August as fifth grade began, Hallie had a new set of tools to use when she would begin feeling lonely or left out. I recently had a conference with her teacher and was ecstatic to learn Hallie was back and doing better than ever! Her teacher shared that Hallie is a bright spot in the class and makes everyone around her feel better about themselves. She explained how others are drawn to Hallie but suspects Hallie doesn’t even realize the impact she has on others. I ,too, see Hallie’s confidence growing day by day. Giving her the tools to navigate school and friends has helped Hallie shine bright once again. Thank you, Rock Solid Families! Hallie’s Mom, Kylee
YOU’RE NOT ALONE
Here’s what Hallie wanted to share with anyone feeling sad or lonely like she was.
I struggled with friendship in the 4th grade year and throughout the summer. I felt I either didn’t have anything to offer to a friend or that there was always someone better. It was like I was always second choice. I would try to play what friends wanted at recess, but the next day they wouldn’t return the favor and play what I wanted.
After meeting with Linda, I feel like I have learned a lot from her and Rock Solid Families. It has made me feel closer to God and Christ and helped me to realize I have many great qualities to offer. Hallie, 10 years old
TAKE A DAILY TEMPERATURE READ
Talk regularly to your child about how they are doing. I call it a parent’s daily temperature read. Take a daily “temperature read” of their day asking them about school, their friends, and how they are feeling. Everyone has a bad day, but if day after day your child seems to be struggling with navigating life, don’t ignore the warning signs. Just like if your child had a high fever for 2 weeks straight, you would be alarmed, the same goes for their emotional “temperature” too. That’s why Hallie’s mom reached out to us. If day after day, your child is having melt downs, tantrums, or isolating themselves from others-something is up. Reach out for help. You are NOT alone. There is HELP and HOPE available. Rock Solid Families has a great resource page full of helpful podcasts, blogs, and outside resources to help you as a parent. Check it out by going to rocksolidfamilies.org/resources, or call us at 812-576-ROCK. That’s why we’re here!