From Pain – A Lesson in Hope Was Born

When a child opens their heart – we should be there to listen.

A lesson that wasn’t written in the curriculum.

Yesterday, at one of the schools where I teach, something happened that I didn’t expect.

In the middle of an ordinary lesson, a young student raised his hand – and completely “out of nowhere” started talking about suicide.

He spoke about a close relative who had taken their own life at a very young age and explained what had led to it.

I immediately stopped what I had planned to teach and opened a conversation with the children about a topic many prefer to avoid:

What do we do when we don’t feel okay?

What do we feel when we’re afraid?

And what options do we have when we feel overwhelmed?

Yes, it’s well known that I’m in love with little ones – with their answers that are so honest and deep, straight from the heart.

So we ended up having a very different kind of lesson: about emotions, about fear, about hope, about boundaries – and about how to ask for help.

My second hat, as a coach, helped me hold that space in a sensitive and supportive way.

I’m writing this as a short post, but it carries a big message:

Even young children are exposed to a lot of information – sometimes much more than we think.

They hear, absorb, understand… and that’s why it’s so important to pay attention to what we say around them – and more importantly:

To open the door to conversation.

To create space.

To truly listen.

And if you – or someone around you – needs help, guidance, or just a listening ear,

I’m here.

You can reach out to me privately and set up a meeting.