Some days are harder than others. Think about the days when you wake up and just don’t feel ok, or you wake up with a huge worry weighing you down. It makes it difficult to function, but many of us will put a smile on our face and get on with our day; most people will not even recognise there is a problem inside you.
We tell children to talk about their worries and concerns but it is so hard to do. It is easier to shut the feelings down and get on with our day. However, those feelings, the worries and concerns, do not just vanish, they show up in different ways.
It is ok to have a wobble and feel unsettled some days but if this feeling lasts, take time to talk to someone you trust. It’s what we tell the children to do and, often, a shared worry or concern reduces in size as we talk about it.
Schools are busy and many of us lead incredibly busy lives but, no matter how busy life is, don’t bottle up feelings. Share them and find someone who will truly listen and help you to make sense of your thoughts. We need to take care of ourselves so we can then help the children we are caring for in our classes.
