Through a Child's Eyes

From my own unpleasant experience in relation to the unexpected recent quake and typhoon, I have realised that when my child senses that I am frightened, he will feel the same, as well. Through this, I have learned to stay calm and at the same time sing a song and even dance along, only to distract my son from feeling nervous and confused. It's a horrible feeling.

Still, weeks later, I find it difficult to cope most especially when I am in bed at night. Still shaken, I have been very clingy to my little one since. Is there any way to explain situations such as this to young children? I wasn't prepared for this at all; no one was.

It helps how messages of support from anyone to everyone, even from people and friends from all over the globe who I haven't seen or heard from in years! It somehow keeps me going when I am told to always stay strong for our children. Yes, children are absolutely helpless without us adults.

"What just happened, Mama?", is the question my son would always ask when an aftershock occurs or when the wind on a normal day starts to blow. In the beginning, I was speechless but having learned to cope, I had no choice but to get on with it and find answers to his questions. No matter how awful I feel, I would comfort my little one and explain that that these events are very normal and natural. I have even learned to express to my toddler that yes, the ground is shaking or the wind is blowing strong to make the trees dance. It's silly to put these events into such perspective, but I would personally think that the best way is to explain what the child sees and only point out the physical properties of the child's surrounding. Nothing in-depth and nothing in technical terms.

Many people I suppose are much stronger than others in terms of coping. We are all different. Nevertheless, life has to go on…especially for our children.