Do you believe me? Well you should, because it is true! This does not mean nothing uncomfortable will happen, of course, or that events beyond our control will cause us pain of some kind, surely this is the stuff of life? But ultimately, everything is always OK.

But (of course there is a but) you have to choose it, decide it and be assured of it, in order to experience it.

Our children know this intuitively, which is why they generally do not ‘worry’ as such, and those that do will have learned to do so from observing the world around them and the behaviours of the adults they know best.

Children seek out joy and laughter

Children want to believe in the best in life, they seek out fun, joy and laughter and right now, when so much is ‘not great’ in our world, they need us more than ever to show them that we know it to be true and that we trust them in their belief.

But how can you believe everything is OK when you feel the opposite? When you are concerned about money, paying bills, staying healthy and protecting your family? The answer is simple, but not easy.

You filter out the negative stuff which creates fear within you, and you fill your mind and heart with good stuff: consider this a diet for your soul – soul food.

To help your children navigate returning to school and living their lives in uncertain times, you can make a few commitments to yourself.

Stop watching the news and scrolling on social media

Firstly, stop watching the news, it only makes you angry! Spend less time mindlessly scrolling on social media, it only makes you anxious.

Spend more time looking for things to be grateful for and celebrating them wildly. Let your children lead once in a while, rather than restraining and limiting their exuberance. Try to follow their lead, and find moments of joy in the simple things.

One thing I recommend more than anything else is let them get bored! A bored kid is a creative kid. Eventually they WILL find something to do, and hopefully it does not include a screen.

Learning to problem solve is so enriching

From washing up, basic cooking or fixing a broken toy, to putting on the pillow cases or sorting and folding laundry; no matter what age they are, learning to problem solve, learn new skills and managing their own lives more is so enriching for them. It builds confidence and gives them the personal tools to help them navigate these difficult times for themselves.

Empower your children to find what’s good in themselves and their world, and believe them when they share it with you. It might just be the best thing you have ever done!