I-myself

29/08/2025

Parental Love is expressed in so many ways… often it’s in the small details and actions we’re not even aware of, that they just do for you because ‘that’s what parents do.’

Sometimes we carry childhood wounds about our parents.
They yelled. They didn’t always give enough attention. They swatted us on the back of the head. Didn’t buy the toy we wanted. Fought in front of us. Maybe they didn’t say “I love you” as often as we needed — and yes, a therapist can tell you: you weren’t loved enough.

But how could a therapist know the details? The little things we might not even remember?

I think back to when I came home on break from college with my 8-month-old daughter. She was a restless sleeper, waking and crying at night. I’d already gotten used to it. Rock her, soothe her, repeat.

That very first night, my dad quietly showed me a “life hack,” as people say now. He brought in a rug and a pillow, laid them next to the baby’s crib, and said:
“We’ll take turns sleeping right here on the floor. It’s easier. You don’t have to jump out of bed all night. Or maybe I’ll just do it myself. It’s good for my back anyway.”

Then he casually added: “I actually slept this way for a year when you were little. Your mom was in med school full-time, I was working at the psychiatric hospital and pulling shifts on the ambulance. And every night I slept on the floor by your crib. Easier to get up fast when you cried. Safer that way.”

I never knew. He never said. Nobody told me. He didn’t swear his love, didn’t make speeches, didn’t declare: I never slept! I sacrificed everything for you!

He just… slept on the floor. And was ready to do it again for his granddaughter. Because in his mind, how else could it be? That was love.

Not every parent said out loud, “I love you.” Back then, it wasn’t the norm. Instead, they showed it in details: saving the best piece of food for us, spending their last dollars on a pair of nice shoes, running out in the middle of the night for medicine, sitting up through sickness, sleeping on a rug by the crib.

So yes, if a therapist can help us heal, that’s good. But if not, maybe we need to remember the little things before we conclude we “weren’t loved.”

Because love often is the details — the kind we don’t always notice, or even remember.

— Anna Kiryanova

17/07/2025

You won’t always recognise a cry for love when it comes wrapped in defiance, anger, or attitude.
But that’s often when it’s needed most.

Some kids don’t know how to ask for comfort.
So they push.
They test.
They unravel right in front of you — not to make your life harder,
but because they don’t yet have the words to say:
“I’m scared. I’m overwhelmed. I need you.”

Their behaviour isn’t defiance.
It’s a signal.
A flare.
A silent question:
Will you still choose me — even like this?

And if we can hold steady in those moments —
not because it’s easy, but because it matters —
we show them what love really is:

Not conditional.
Not earned.
Not withdrawn when things get hard.

But constant.
Rooted.
Real.

That’s what makes your presence so powerful.

Not because you fix it all —
but because you stay when it’s hardest to stay.

That’s when love speaks loudest.
Not through the ease — but through the storm. ❤️

Quote Credit: Dr. Russell A. Barkley ❣️

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14/07/2025

Do you know how to REST?
Not doing anything ... JUST REST?

It’s school holidays and I’m making every effort not to be busy and instead to intentionally rest!
Trying not to fall into the trap of believing that doing nothing… means doing nothing for myself.

•••

We’ve been conditioned to believe that not being productive is somehow a failure.

That if it doesn’t have a visible outcome, it doesn’t count.

That rest is wasted time.

We’ve become so used to being busy —

to checking off boxes,

to tracking our progress,

to measuring worth in output —

that we’ve forgotten something essential:

Rest is productive.

It’s the moment your body heals.

Your mind exhales.

Your soul whispers.

Reading a magazine.

Taking a long shower.

Sitting in the garden with a warm cup of coffee.

None of it is a waste.

Because time spent resting… is time well spent.

We’re not machines.

We’re not meant to hustle 24/7.

We are human beings.

And sometimes, we just need to be.

— Becky Hemsley

Echoes of Insight

10/07/2025

Joy can change the entire journey!

When joy leads, everything shifts.

The atmosphere softens.
The power struggles lose their grip.
Connection deepens — not through force, but through fun.

Because when laughter echoes louder than commands…
When silliness is allowed to sit at the table…
When your child feels like you enjoy BEING with them…

That’s when trust takes root.
That’s when cooperation becomes natural.
That’s when the relationship begins to lead.

And joy doesn’t just change them — it changes you.

Suddenly, everything feels a little less urgent.
The meltdowns feel less catastrophic.
The mess feels less offensive.

Joy widens the lens — and when the pressure eases, so do we.

It reminds us that this isn’t about perfection.
It’s about presence.
Because your child won’t remember every rule you enforced — but they’ll never forget the way it felt to be around you.

Make joy the star of the show.
That’s when the real magic begins. ❤️

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07/06/2025

This is a thought provoking read. Who do you have in your life who could be this to you?

She was drowning.
And nobody noticed…
Nobody, except her.

It was June 2022, at the World Championships in Budapest.
Anita Álvarez, an American artistic swimmer with Mexican roots, was performing a flawless routine.
But when her performance ended… she didn’t come up for air.

She had lost consciousness.
Her body floated for a few seconds, then began to sink.
Slowly. All the way to the bottom of the pool.

The audience didn’t notice. Neither did the judges.
Everyone was clapping.

But her coach, Andrea Fuentes, noticed.
She knew Anita—knew exactly how long it took her to surface.
She felt in her heart that something was wrong.

Without thinking twice, she dove in.
Fully dressed. Shoes and all.

She swam straight down, grabbed Anita by the waist,
and brought her back up.
She saved her life.

This story left me thinking…

Who knows you well enough to notice when you’re not okay, even if you’re still smiling?
Who would dive in for you without hesitation when you no longer have the strength to come up for air?

And more importantly…

Would you be that person for someone else?
Are you present enough in your loved ones’ lives to sense the moment they start to sink?
Or are you just another spectator, clapping, not realizing that inside, they’re fading?

In this life, we all need someone who doesn’t just see us—
but truly notices us.
Someone who knows when we’re about to give up,
and has the courage to jump in and save us.

01/06/2025

Misophonia is a little-understood neurological condition in which specific sounds—often those tied to eating, breathing, or repetitive actions—provoke unusually strong emotional responses such as irritation, panic, or rage. What’s barely noticeable to most people can become overwhelming for someone with this sensitivity.

Researchers suspect the disorder stems from atypical communication between auditory processing areas and parts of the brain responsible for regulating emotions. While there’s no known cure, therapies focused on sound tolerance and emotional regulation may help ease its impact on daily life.

25/05/2025

A fun take on a common parenting dilemma!

15/05/2025

A five-year-old boy, Max Evans-Browning, celebrated the 99th birthday of his idol, Sir David Attenborough, by drawing an impressive 99 animals. Max, a passionate fan of the renowned British biologist since he could talk, spent several days creating this special tribute.

The drawings, spanning eight A3 sheets of paper, were carefully crafted over four evenings after school. Max’s mother, Samantha, shared the project online in hopes of it reaching Attenborough himself. The heartfelt post gained immediate attention, with hundreds of shares within 24 hours. Samantha, from Pembrokeshire, expressed her desire to fulfill her son’s dream of connecting with Sir David. She posted on Facebook, urging people to share the drawings far and wide.

Max’s dedication to Attenborough's work is evident; he spends hours researching the biologist's favorite animals, eager to get every detail right. At just five, Max knows about rare creatures like pangolins and has watched all of Sir David’s documentaries. His enthusiasm extends beyond just learning about animals—Max also participates in activities like litter picking and is passionate about ocean conservation. His tribute was a true labor of love, and all Max hopes for now is that Sir David sees his birthday card.

15/04/2025

A groundbreaking study published in The Lancet shows that a strict elimination diet can dramatically improve ADHD symptoms in young children. After reintroducing certain foods, 63% of children experienced behavioral relapses, highlighting the impact of non-allergic food sensitivities on cognitive function. This challenges traditional views on food allergies and ADHD.