Generational Health
Let your kids know how important mental health is.
This is a photo I took of a blanket from a resort I stayed at recently. So simple, yet it means so much.
Hello, my dearest Substack readers. I hope all is well. Life has still been kicking my ass, but I’ve been learning how to dodge some licks here and there.
My future has been on my mind a lot lately. I try not to overthink and try to live in the moment, but it’s hard sometimes. The future keeps me motivated. My children’s future keeps me motivated. If everything I do is for them, how could I not stay awake and think about all the great things I want to accomplish and pass down to them? Somehow, I always end up stuck thinking about all of the things I wish my mother would have taught me. All of the little tidbits of wisdom I wish were handed down to me. I know, of course, that growing up she tried to warn me about a lot of different things. But did I listen? Like most teenagers, of course not. Like most who grew up too fast, I thought I knew what was best for me. Boy, how wrong was I? I thought if I planned things out enough, I would be okay. I thought that as long as I had a job, things would be ok.
I quickly found out that life was so much more than just financial planning. There are so many other areas of life you need to be cautious of. Your mental health being the biggest of those areas. Of course I want to pass down money, businesses, and land to my children, but what about knowledge on mental health? What about knowledge on how they should take care of themselves and the family they create? To me, that’s what’s most important. If they can’t take care of themselves mentally, then there’s no way that they could sustain the rest.
I’ve learned that generations before us really didn’t talk about mental health or take it seriously at all. Like- ever. For some reason, it was considered "taboo." So much so that if you do enough digging, you will find at least one person you know that has had mental issues since they were a child, but it always got swept under the rug until they were an adult, left to their own devices. Older generations said things like, “Boys and men can’t cry or they are weak.” Or things like, “Women should enjoy being at home with the kids, and it isn’t work.” Isn’t it crazy how time has passed and we’ve learned these things are absolutely not true?
I want my dear son to know that it’s ok to show emotions or be venerable when you feel like you need to. That doesn’t make you weak or less of a man. I want my dear daughter to know that being a mom is hard work, regardless if you stay at home with them or not. They need to know that mental health is everything and that you can’t reach your goals unless you take care of yourself first. Your car can’t run without fuel, and the same thing goes for your mind, body, and soul.
I hope they wake up happy and ready to tackle the day. I hope they know that prayer can move mountains if they allow it to and that there is a solution to every problem they may face. I hope they grow up knowing that no matter what, they will always have their mom and dad by their side. That they can come to us, and we will listen to them, not judge them. I hope they know that we will never give up on them or abandon them when things get hard.
I hope they understand how important it is to rest and take care of their basic necessities. Sleep, eat, wash, and nourish your mind with education and things that make them feel happy. Fill up with things that make them feel accomplished, not social media, drama or things that don’t serve them. If I could sum it up for them I would say, Don’t put yourself on the back burner, and don’t put things above your rest.”
I want to teach them little things that have a major impact, like taking a day to themselves when things get overwhelming or work on things that they are passionate about. These things may seem small, but they can change how you feel completely. They could lift up your spirits completely. I just want them to know how important their mental health is.
Thank you so much for reading my words and thoughts. I hope you are thinking about generational health also. Please let me know something strange you’ve heard related to mental health from an older person down in the comments; I’d love to hear it.
This was another addition to
“Sparkle on Substack: 24 Essays Club." If you would like to challenge yourself for the rest of 2024, it’s not too late. Check out her amazing work and the work of some other great writers.