Sitting with the Inner Child
The healing journey continues.
Be the adult your childhood needed.
Recently, I felt a strong pull to connect more deeply to my inner child healing. It wasn’t loud or dramatic—just a quiet urge that appeared in the most unexpected moments. This isn’t a guidebook, just honest reflections from two people learning to show up for themselves in small, meaningful ways.
A few weeks ago, I had breakthroughs that made my inner child feel truly connected to the person I am today. I even hugged myself to encourage myself along the way. I want to share some of that journey—how I’ve been able to acknowledge my little me and what that’s looked like in real life.
When Healing Happens in the Mundane
I’m an adult with ADHD and generally an eccentric person. Sometimes, I struggle to keep the momentum going—getting out of the house on time or finishing things before I start feeling defeated. These are real challenges for me.
One day, I was ironing a pair of jeans, already behind on my plans for the day. I glanced at the clock and started to feel the usual pressure building. Out of nowhere, I felt a tap on my back. I was alone in the house—nothing was there. It felt like an interdimensional moment, honestly.
I kept ironing in this heavy, almost sad state, but something shifted. As I finished, I quietly said to myself, “Look at you, good job.” It is such a simple thing to say, but it hit me hard. That was me parenting myself—giving myself the support I didn’t get when I was younger.
It wasn’t about blaming my parents—my mother did her best. She had her own wounds and emotional neglect to deal with. However, at that moment, I gave my little me love, patience, and unconditional support.
That’s when the healing clicks. These small, almost invisible moments are when the light comes in. They remind us that we can be the ones to show up for ourselves now, even if no one did back then—or does now.
Little Joys, Big Healing
There are other ways I reconnect with my little self. Sometimes it’s sitting in a coffee shop, listening to music, snacking, people-watching—and smiling. No plans, no expectations. Other times it’s being in nature, walking into a pet store, or taking an impromptu trip to the zoo to watch the fish and little animals. It fills my heart to be around animals, just like when I was a child.
These things might seem small or silly, but they help when I feel overstimulated or disconnected. As someone with ADHD, I know the feeling of being overwhelmed all too well. That’s why I give myself at least one day a week to slow all the way down—rest, scroll on my phone, snack on something nostalgic. Just let myself be. That’s how I let my inner child be seen, heard and appreciated. And honestly, that’s sacred.
The kinder things give meaning to the finer things of life.
A Legacy of Healing
One memory that’s always stuck with me is something my mom did. She grew up not getting many new toys or gifts, and as an adult, she bought herself cute dolls and toys that probably would’ve made her younger self happy. Later, she’d offer them to me—even though I was already grown—or say we could give them to someone else.
I never made fun of her for that. I let her have that space to heal in her way. Now, I see it so clearly—that was her inner child being nurtured. That was healing too.
You Have Their Back
The next time you feel pulled to buy your favorite snack from childhood, a comic book, to cry, or go on a little solo trip to the zoo you never got to take—please, allow yourself that. This life isn’t only about paying bills and keeping up appearances, or pleasing others. It’s about healing the foundation and becoming better humans. We can finally give ourselves the things we needed all along. Why deny ourselves the peace and happiness we yearned for when we can give ourselves some or all of it now?
Healing doesn’t come from punishing yourself for not knowing any better.
Sit with the little you. Tell them you’ve got their back and believe it because you do. Tell them they’re okay, and they always were. Apologize to them for not being able to save them then. Forgive your inner child for enduring all they suffered. Thank them for hanging in there. And don’t forget to hug yourself if you need it.
Our community meeting this Friday will be saturated with virtual hugs. It’ll be lovely to give you one.
 | A guest post by
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We all expect so much of ourselves that slowing down enough to be proud of large accomplishments (let alone, smaller ones) is often forgotten.
We expect success as the norm rather than celebrating ourselves. While ironing may not be the life altering accomplishment we strive for, it was still done, it still checks something off the list and is one less piece of clutter in our minds. Kudos to you Cristabelle for having the clarity to see this as a win.
These wins for our psyche and our emotional state are not small but meaningful - if the item checked off was to buy a house or to fold the laundry, it is one less item on our checklist clouding our brains.
Reading this article, has made me laugh, smile, and give myself a heartwarming hug. As adults, we’re hard on ourselves because that’s the way we’re treated in society. However, we’re allowed to have fun, make light of hard times, and laugh at our mistakes every now and then.
Great read and excellent work to both of you! I can’t wait for tomorrow’s space! 🥰