From Anger to Tears: A Journey Through a Child’s Heart.

It had been one of those evenings that felt like it was destined to unravel. A young boy had been told off for not listening—he had been completely absorbed in flying his drone around the room, despite repeated requests to stop. Inevitably, the drone crashed and became stuck behind the wardrobe.

What should have been a calm bedtime turned into an ordeal. The furniture had to be pulled out to retrieve the drone, which only added to the chaos. The boy was furious—not just at the situation but at the adult who had reprimanded him. He lashed out, kicking and hitting in frustration, his anger pouring out in waves. It took a great deal of patience to keep calm, but somehow, I managed it as to avoid escalating the situation further.

After a long while, his anger began to subside. Gently, he was shown how his body was giving away how tired he was—flushed cheeks, clumsy movements, and tripping over his own feet were all signs. I explained to him that these things weren’t just a reflection of his anger but of exhaustion. Slowly, he began to listen.

He was encouraged to think about what had happened. After some reflection, he acknowledged that he should have listened earlier and decided he needed to apologise. For a moment, it felt like the storm had passed.

But then something unexpected happened. He climbed onto bed and suddenly broke down into floods of tears, his small frame shaking as he sobbed uncontrollably. It wasn’t anger this time—it was deep sadness.

Through his tears, he explained what was upsetting him. He missed a little boy he’d met earlier in the day during a trip to the beach. They’d only played together for ten minutes, but that brief connection had left a lasting impression. Now, as bedtime approached, he was devastated at the thought of never seeing his new friend again.

As he spoke, it became clear that there was more to his sadness. He confessed that he sometimes felt lonely, and hearing this was utterly heartbreaking. Silent tears welled up while listening, the rawness of his emotion cutting deeply.

He talked about how much he wanted someone to play with him in the sea, just like that kind little boy had. He was feeling lonely, he is more drawn to younger children. In response, a promise was made: the family would go back to the beach at the next available opportunity. Together, we planned the outing—towels, spare clothes, hot drinks, food, and even Crocs for wading into the water.

It took him half an hour to calm down completely. Even then, he needed to be held and cradled before he could finally drift off to sleep. That night, while he rested, thoughts raced about how to ensure he wouldn’t feel this kind of loneliness again.

The evening was a stark reminder of the depth of children’s emotions and the profound connections they can form, even in fleeting moments. This experience is part of an ongoing journey, a challenging but deeply meaningful one, and sharing it helps to reflect and find ways to navigate it.