u003cpu003eu003ca href=u0022https://pcaaz.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/pexels-polina-zimmerman-3958470-scaled.jpgu0022u003eu003cimg class=u0022size-medium wp-image-10691 alignleftu0022 src=u0022https://pcaaz.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/pexels-polina-zimmerman-3958470.jpgu0022 alt=u0022u0022 width=u0022300u0022 height=u0022200u0022 /u003eu003c/au003eu003cstrongu003eby Claire Louge, Executive Directoru003c/strongu003eu003c/pu003ernu003cpu003eThink about a time when you went through something hard, and you went to someone for support. Was their response supportive and helpful?u003c/pu003ernu003cpu003eIf it was, it's probably because they expressed empathy: They acknowledged that what you were going through was hard. That acknowledgment is the doorway to moving through tough emotions and tough times. It makes you feel more seen and less alone. It makes it okay not to be okay.u003c/pu003ernu003cpu003eOne thing I have appreciated about this pandemic era is that it has become u003cstrongu003enormal not to feel okayu003c/strongu003e. Our collective experience, in many ways, has given us the opportunity for empathy because we're u003cemu003eall going through something hardu003c/emu003e. Although some have it much harder than others, the shared experience makes it easier to relate, to empathize.u003c/pu003ernu003cpu003eFeeling stressed and experiencing struggle has been normalized. I find this normalization u003cemu003eso liberatingu003c/emu003e. When we normalize that life can cause overwhelming stress, our struggle isn't considered a character flaw or a judgment on our worth; it becomes an understandable reaction to our circumstance. It becomes an opportunity for support.u003c/pu003ernu003cpu003eu003cstrongu003eNormalizing stress is also a key to preventing child abuse.u003c/strongu003e Most child abuse and neglect is a result of overwhelming stress experienced by parents and caregivers. When we make it okay not to be okay, we're creating a culture of non-judgment and support, opening up the doors for parents to ask for help when they need it, and u003cstrongu003ethat is where prevention happensu003c/strongu003e.u003c/pu003ernu003cpu003eNormalizing stress allows us to ask different questions. Rather than asking ourselvesu003cemu003e, u0022What's wrong with that parent?u003c/emu003eu0022 (judgment of character), we can asku003cemu003e, u0022What tools does this parent need to face this circumstance?u0022 How can we partner with parents to change the conditions of this circumstance? Is there something to be done to change the amount of stress coming in? Is there a resource that could prevent this stress from growing or becoming overwhelming?u003c/emu003eu003c/pu003ernu003cpu003eInstead of writing someone off as bad or incompetent, we can see the opportunity for growth and change. We help keep children safe u003cemu003ewith their familiesu003c/emu003e rather than safe from them.u003c/pu003ernu003cpu003eI hope we retain the camaraderie of going through something tough together, even long after this pandemic ends. I hope we can always make it okay not to be okay and keep the doors of empathy and support open. Even though this has been an isolating time, it could make us even more connected, compassionate and effective than we have ever been.u003c/pu003e
