After recently completing the college process with daughter, I pondered, "What is it that makes big changes in life so difficult?" I didn't have to look too far for the answers.
First, big transitions--whether to walking, to starting Kindergarten, or to heading off to college--signify big change. Our toddler has never walked upright before. Our college bound child has never lived away from home before. At both ends of the spectrum their worlds change.
At the same time, their relationship with us changes. Toddlers, previously dependent on Mom or Dad to get anywhere, become independent movers. College students live independently. While crawling and high school offer some skills in making the transition, that final step is a doozy.
So, how can we help? We can understand and normalize the challenge. For new walkers, we can say to them, "Wow, trying to balance is scary and I can see falling hurts. A lot." We can verbalize to our college student all the change that goes into picking a school, a life direction, and a place to live--and how intimidating that can be. We can purposely intention to walk the transitions with our child--offering support, encouragement, and the freedom for them to begin succeeding in their next stage. Cheering our child the entire time.
Transitions are big. They incite deep emotion in our children. When we normalize all that's going on for them and then support them as they inch their way into the new place, our children thrive.
This month’s topic: What are the ways you help your children through big transitions?
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