06/06/2025
In my experience I have learnt that our children will have feelings, it is how we help them navigate through that matters.
1. Always validate their feelings. Don't undermine that they feel a certain way. If they tell you they felt hurt by what someone said and maybe you consider it a small thing; don't be quick to rubbish it off and tell them there's no time to feel bad about what people say. Instead tell them this, "It is true. A lot of people say hurtful things and we are only human enough to feel hurt."
2. After validating their feelings, you have to lay truth before them. Now truth comes in not to show them the power of trying to stabilize their external environment but of trying to stabilize their internal environment. For instance in this case, you say this:-
"People will always say hurtful things that are not true, so there's no way we can stop people, but you have to realize what you want to believe in and stand by it. Do you want to believe what they said, or do you want to believe in what you know is true."
In summary: we validate their feelings and not throw them under the carpet, but we also balance the feelings with truth in order to foster resilience in them.
Depending on each situation to tackle; you can tackle it immediately or take time and find the right words to use when handling the issues.