Band-Aids: Badges of Honor
There is something magical about band-aids, as any parent can tell you. When our children cut or scrape themselves, a band-aid seems to make it all feel better. It’s not really the bandage, of course. The fact that we take the time to listen to our child’s woes is what really matters.
It’s easy to brush off the little things, but when we take the time to show our children compassion by treating their hurts—visible or not—with love and tenderness, we let them know that we are there for them. At the same time, we model compassion, and they, in turn, act compassionately towards others.
The small price of a band-aid, even when it isn’t truly needed to protect a wound, seems inconsequential in comparison. Some day their pains will be bigger and more complicated, but we will have set up the trust for them to come to us with open honesty by showing that compassion now. Band-aids are badges of honor for us – honoring the love and compassion we wish to share with our children.
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This post was originally published at Living Peacefully with Children.
About the Author - Mandy
Mandy O'Brien is an unschooling mom of four. She's an avid reader and self-proclaimed research fanatic. She shares a glimpse into her life at Living Peacefully with Children, where she writes about various natural parenting subjects. She also shares her view on books at Novel Obsession. and is working to help parents identify with and normalize attachment parenting through Attachment Parents Get Real.
2 Responses to Band-Aids: Badges of Honor
that was quite moving, thank you for helping me to see such a small act in such a beautiful light
My son is allergic to band-aid adhesive, so we’ve really gotten to see this be true-it isn’t the band-aid that helps, it’s being scooped up by a parent and kissed and given attention.
Sweet post.