Why does it hurt so much when our child is left out?

I don’t think it’s only because we’re watching our children suffer. It’s possible because we’re remembering our own pain as well.Watching a child standing on the edge of a friendship group has a way of waking up the child we once were. The one who wasn’t invited. The one who didn’t quite fit in. The one who wondered what was wrong with them.In this Parent Pause, I’m thinking about why exclusion can feel so painful for parents, why our children’s stories are not the same as our own, and why resisting the urge to rush in and fix things can sometimes be the hardest and most loving thing we do.Because perhaps what our children need most is not for us to remove every obstacle, but for us to trust that they will find their people and their place.Thank you for pausing with me. Take care. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kimmccabe.substack.com/subscribe