A teacher reflects on the need for self-care and presence amid parenting and classroom demands. She returns to meditation and the ‘oxygen mask’ metaphor, quotes Kahlil Gibran on children’s independence, and urges listening to the present as a bridge to connection.
A mother reflects on her daughter’s sensory and developmental challenges, the long journey to diagnoses and services, and how music—especially the song “Boats And Birds”—connects them. She describes schooling struggles, therapies, and the need for acceptance rather than fixing, sharing resilience and hope.
Kahlil Gibran’s poem ‘On Children’ inspires reflection on listening to gifted children and prioritizing emotional well-being over academic potential. A child’s metaphor of a kite illustrates the need to support their present emotions and growth, reminding parents to be present and value emotional health as foundational.
