31/05/2026
When your child says “nobody likes me” — your heart breaks a little, doesn’t it?
Every parent knows that moment. You want to fix it instantly. You want to tell them it isn’t true, that everyone loves them, that tomorrow will be better.
But here’s what the research actually tells us: rushing to reassure can backfire. When we jump to fix the feeling, we accidentally tell our child that the feeling is wrong. And a child who learns their feelings are wrong stops sharing them.
What they need in that moment isn’t a solution. It’s you. Present. Calm. Curious.
“That sounds really painful. Tell me more.”
That’s it. That’s the whole first step. Sit with them in it before you try to move them out of it. Ask one question. Let them feel heard.
Because a child who feels truly heard — even in their hardest moments — learns something that will carry them through life: that emotions are survivable, that relationships are safe, and that there is always one person firmly on their team.
You are that person. Make sure they know it.
💛 Save this for the next time you need it. And if you found this helpful, share it with a parent who needs it tonight.