Mom narrates how daughter, who helped depressed brother, taught her life lessons
Children are indeed great sources of inspiration. They inspire people to love, to live and to laugh. On many occasions, parents have taken to listing out and giving examples of the blessing of having kids. But even more, for those who are willing, it is possible to learn one or two lessons from one's kids.
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A Nigerian mother named Gbemi Adekoya has shared a very touching experience detailing how she was able to learn certain important life lessons from her daughter. The little girl, who is eight years old, named Alexis, has been instrumental towards the lady's emotional and social growth in recent times.
According to Gbemi, she had stumbled on a note in the house. Given by the way it had been written and the sheer brevity of it, the lady knew that it had been written by one of her children.
Because she saw it in her daughter's room, she assumed that was where it had come from. In the note, the writer was reaching out for help and complaining about feeling unloved. Gbemi who was deeply affected by the note decided to talk to Alexis about it.
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During her chat with Alexis, she discovered that it was actually David, her daughter's younger brother, that had written the note. The little senior sister had asked him to write down his feelings after noticing that he was sad and when he poured out his thoughts, she took up the role of a counsellor and set things straight.
Gbemi was touched by her daughter's gesture in so many ways. She poured out her heart on Instagram. Read her words below:
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"This note is a couple of months old and I'm only just now ready to share it. .
"Sometimes I feel like nobody cares about me"
Oh wow! Child?! Really?!
I saw the note in Alexis' room and trying to mask how alarmed/guilty/attacked I felt, I calmly asked her if she wanted to talk about it. I wasn't ready for her reply.
"Oh that's David's. I noticed he was sad and when I asked him if he wanted to talk, he said no. So, I told him to write down his feelings. He's okay now. I gave him a hug and I told him how much I love him".
She said it so casually, like it was nothing. And I stood there, short of words. My heart swelling and expanding... I thought it was going to burst ❤️
How did she know to love her brother like so? To respect his feelings when he didn't want to talk? To encourage him to express his feelings by writing them down? To reassure him and remind him that he is loved? To not dismiss him? Or make it about her? To not assume that he was attacking her? To create a safe space where he could open up?
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How does an 8 year old know these things I'm only just learning in my Counseling Techniques class??? I can't honestly take credit. I didn't teach her these things. I mean, I'm still working on trying to be a better listener. And sometimes, I'm so caught up in my own struggles, I'm not paying enough attention to others around me, to know if they're sad.
My daughter is teaching me that carrying each other's burdens, like God has asked us to do, can be simple and I can do it. That getting a masters in counseling is great and all, but while I'm studying for it, I can still be the change I would like to see in the world, one act of kindness at a time. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️"
Indeed, there is nothing like being gladdened by the actions of one's child and learning from such deeds.
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Source: Briefly News
