u/plantman_la

Yesterday I got home from work emotionally exhausted and in physical pain (I deal with chronic pain from autoimmune disease) and I was doing my best to prepare dinner for my 2 year old twins. I broke down sobbing- exhaustion, pain, disappointing doctor’s appointments, burn out from work, stress of keeping the relationship with my wife alive and healthy- it all hit me at once. I sat on the kitchen floor after cutting up avocados.

My son was on the other side of the baby gate and at first he looked at me and started giggling and said “funny” because I’m sure the way my body was moving made it look like I was laughing. Then he stopped giggling and paused, processing. I moved my hands from my eyes and he must have seen the pain in my eyes and face. He said “what’s wrong?” I was already surprised by his question. I said “daddy’s sad”. And he held out his arms from the other side of the baby gate and said “hug!” And I went over to him and hugged him crying. I felt multiple generations of healing happening all at once. My parent’s unprocessed grief and sadness, unable to show emotions in front of their children. Me showing my kids emotions hay adults also experience big and uncomfortable or seemingly negative emotions. My own sadness being from being an emotionally abandoned and neglected infant and toddler-all being healed by this sweet emotionally intelligent and loving 2 year old boy. It was an overwhelming feeling. After the hug he just simply looked at me with concern and then pointed to the living room and said “watch elmo?” As if he knew that after an emotional release like that I’d be looking for something comforting to occupy the mind.

Anyway, I felt compelled to share. Maybe you have similar stories.