Little Scars and Hidden Boo Boos

It occurs to me that there is a fundamental difference in the way a child and an adult experience hurt.

In counseling children everyday - dealing with their physical and emotional injuries, I've learned that there is a fine line between coddling a child, and teaching them how to take things in stride.

The first time a tiny tot gets a cut, he cries like there's no tomorrow.

He's never experienced this intense pain before!

What will happen?

Will he die???

It feels terrible!!

Then an adult, all calm and confident, patches him up, kisses the little wound, and tells him it will be alright.

The child happily runs off to play - and learns that little cuts are a way of life.

Thus tenacityis learned.

But somewhere along the way... culture, society and experience teaches that same kid that he must be "tough" --

Real men don't cry. Suck it up - that's life! Don't be a wuss.

This morning, the teachers got a turn to play in the Bouncy Castle the school had rented for the kids. (You have to give it to teachers - we certainly know how to keep the child in us!)

There we were, laughing, screaming, pushing, sliding...

I then got the very clever idea in my head to slide down belly-down, head first...

... and as I reached the bottom of the slide, my left wrist stuck to the plastic slide and slipped underneath my torso.... OWWIEEE!!

Immediately, I masked my true feelings and stuck a smile on my face - I didn't let on of any injury - laughing and getting up as if nothing had happened - discreetly checking my wrist - it wasn't that bad. Heh.

Later on in the Teachers' Room, I discovered a few of my fellow "playmates" had collected plastic-burns from the slides. Of course, at the time of play, no one had shown any sign of injuries.

You know..., had we been little kids playing in that Bouncy Castle, the moment the injuries had occurred, we would've made loud screams or cried a little - seeking comfort and reassurance from anyone we could get it from.

Of course, because we are adults and that would just be ridiculous..., our little injuries went almost unnoticed.

But this trivial observation has made me wonder:

Do we adults hold our secret hurts and scars too closely to ourselves? What walls of pride do we build around ourselves that prevent the people we care about from realizing that we are hurt and need a little reassurance and comfort? Thus inadvertently causing ourselves more injury...

Try this: Next time you feel that life has hurt you.. but your silly pride prevents you from calling a friend up..., or fear of rejection makes you hide your need for comfort..., remember ~~

People who love and care for you are a lot more understanding than you give them credit for.

Instead of rejection, a friend might just give you a smile and say...

"Don't worry. It's gonna be alright. I'm here."

And that will be enough to make the heart-booboo go away. :)