Riding An Emotional Roller Coaster

By Nayan Rath 4 May 2023

My 6-year-old had an outrageous tantrum at a marriage function. I had just come from the office and was trying to hold her together, even though I was exhausted. But she rolled on the floor with a heartbreaking cry that left me physically and emotionally drained. Feeling helpless, I uttered, 'Oh, Mom!'. Suddenly, a woman approached me and hugged me without saying a word. I lost it and cried on her shoulder, feeling her empathetic support. She patted me on the back and said, 'You are a wonderful Mom,' before walking away. My baby looked at us in bewilderment.

I never knew who she was and never saw her again, but I can't forget the feeling of how her hug helped me and the kindness I least expected from a random stranger. Deep down, I felt like a loner - a single mom making ends meet and thinking this wasn't the life I wanted. It's like being in labor; it hurts, it's hard, and it gets harder. But once you're in the middle of it, the only way out of the pain is to keep going. Open up and be vulnerable; you will find that you are most certainly not alone.

Here are some supporting tips:

1. Take time for yourself and find happiness in the small things in life. If you aren't happy and healthy, you can't be the best parent you want to be.

2. Take the spotlight off yourself and focus on someone else. You will find that your problems seem much smaller. Any random act of kindness or volunteering at a shelter is always an opportunity to serve other people and find pleasure within.

3. Connect to the Almighty. Whisper to Him how you're feeling and ask Him to fill your heart with contentment in the present. Practice mindfulness.