“But I'll kneel down,
Wait for now
And I'll kneel down,
Know my ground
And I will wait, I will wait for you.”
–Mumford & Sons
At the beginning of any school year, there are always quite a few student information sheets to fill out. But when I came to the pink sheet in my second grader’s folder, I was forced to pause.
What are your child’s fears? What calms your child when upset?
As my pen sat suspended above the blank lines, I let my mind wander into dark territories. What situations would upset my child at school? I knew. Intruders and tornadoes. Thankfully she’d only experienced one of them first-hand, and the tornado did not have a direct hit. But it was close enough to forever alter her perception of storms and the fragility of life.
Thankfully, I knew exactly what would bring comfort to my child if either of these situations arose. She would want to know where her sister was in the building. She would want to know that I was coming for her just as soon as I possibly could.
In other words: tell her where her people are.
I called my daughters to the kitchen. I told them about the pink sheet, as well as the emergency evacuation form provided by the school. At their new school the emergency procedures were different from their previous school. I let the girls know that anytime it was necessary to vacate the building, they would be taken to different safe places—one to the middle school and one to the high school with their respective classes. The girls talked about a few of the drills they’d practiced in the past and remembered how some classmates slept in their classrooms during an ice storm last year. I reminded them that in the event of an emergency, I might not be allowed to come right away, but I would eventually get to them any way I could.
My younger daughter giggled as she typically does when she is scared or nervous. My older daughter nodded casually, although her big brown eyes gave away her true feelings about this topic.
“Even if I am not with you, know for certain that I am waiting for you and praying for you,” I said clutching each of their arms as if to brand that assurance into their skin like a tattoo.
I’d learned the importance of Knowing Where Your People Are early in my parenting journey. My husband and I were staying in a high-rise condo with several members of our extended family when the fire alarm began screaming in the middle of night. My husband and I bolted from our bed looking to retrieve the children who were four-years-old and eleven-months-old at the time. My husband quickly gathered my older daughter in his arms. He stopped me from going to the baby’s room. “Let’s go!” he urged.
“Where’s my baby! Where’s my baby!” I screamed hysterically. For some reason, he did not tell me specifics, only that she was okay and we must get down the stairs. Those were the most agonizing twenty-two flights of stairs I’d ever descended. My heart nearly beat right out my chest in anticipation of finding my baby waiting for me at the bottom.
When I saw her in the arms of a family member, my knees went weak. Her little hands reached for me desperately. For the first time ever, I saw what fear looked like on my child’s little face. She had been wondering where I was. My daughter buried her face into my neck and her body instantly relaxed. In that moment, I realized a person could overcome the most adverse situations simply by knowing where his or her loved ones were. The walls could be coming down, the winds could sound like a freight train, the situation could be growing worse by the second, but there was great comfort in Knowing Where Your People Are.
This understanding has come in quite handy over the past few months. Ever since our move to a new state this summer, fear has not been a stranger in our home. Facing many “firsts” and not knowing anyone caused my older daughter to get very concerned about the Ebola virus. As we talked about it for several nights in a row, I noted her questions centered around what would happen if Daddy got it. Or what would happen if I got it. My assurances focused on the safety precautions that would keep the people she loved safe and healthy.
My younger daughter was very anxious on the day of her first swim team practice. Before we left the locker room, her hands trembled and her eyes filled with tears. This was not the beloved YMCA where she had a family of coaches that loved her. She wanted to go back to the old team, she told me repeatedly. I assured her that first times are always the hardest. I told her I would be sitting on the bench watching and silently cheering on her bravery.
Upon her entry into the water, her goggles flew off. The cold water took her breath away. There were more kids in her lane than she was used to. I could see the fear grip her, and she began to cry. Her coach bent down, speaking calmly and encouragingly. He adjusted her goggles and off she swam. But each time she came to the end of the lane, her eyes met mine. Your people are right here, my face would say. My daughter has proceeded to get four more practices under her belt and the tears have completely subsided. But even now, she still looks for me each time she comes to the end of the lane.
One afternoon, at school dismissal time, a severe storm popped up. The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning. The school notified parents that the children would not be released until the weather subsided. My chest tightened. I worried about how my children would react to this situation, especially my younger daughter due to her intense fear of storms. I immediately prayed that my children would feel comforted by their teachers, and they would be kept safe from harm. An hour and a half later, the storm passed, and we were all united.
“Were you okay?” I asked my younger daughter as she squeezed my mid-section until I could barely breathe.
“We were in ‘tuck and duck’ position forever,” she said exhaustedly. “It was like hard exercise!” After a slight pause, she squeezed me again. “But I wasn’t scared, Mama. I knew that my sister was in the next hall and you were at home praying.”
My friends, the world can be scary–both the world we see on television each night and the one that meets us each morning whether we’re ready or not. There are firsts we must get through … there are hurtful people that intimidate and bully … there are tough situations with no easy answers … there are hardships and heavy burdens … there are pains within us that cannot even be described. It is not uncommon for our loved ones to lay their fears before us and we just don’t even know what to do with them. It can be excruciating to send the people we love off to school … into the pool … off to college … into battle … or into territories unknown when all we want to do is hug them to our chest and never let them go.
But next time that happens, I want you to remember this beautiful comment left by a reader of my blog:
“Because I sat on the stoop as he went off to elementary school and was there waiting for him when he came home, my son thought I was there all day waiting.”
I cried happy tears knowing a little boy went off to school each day thinking his mother loved him so much that she waited for his return. I felt so thankful that one day, when this boy was grown, he told his mom this story and she shared it with others so we could all remember this:
Do not underestimate the power of Knowing Where Your People Are.
Do not underestimate the comfort that comes from knowing someone is waiting for you.
When our people are safe, we feel safe.
When our people believe in us, we are more likely to believe in ourselves.
So keep cheering from the bleachers … keep waiting on the front steps … keep waving as that bus pulls away … keep bowing your head in quiet reverence. Your mere existence, whether in presence or in thought, is enough to make a fearful heart believe it’s all going to be okay.
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Dear friends of The Hands Free Revolution, I used my favorite positive affirmations from my growing up years, as well as the ones I used as a special education teacher to create these Made With Love Lunch Notes. In each little burlap sack comes a set of 25 different affirmation cards. Their small size makes them perfect size for lunches, suitcases, duffle bags, pillows, bookmarks, and to post on bathroom mirrors. Give them freely to let someone feel your presence and your love, even when you are apart. (International shipping is available)
My FALL 2018 speaking schedule has been finalized. Please meet me in Scottsdale, AZ (9/15) … Cleveland, OH (10/20) … or Boston, MA (11/14) at these lovely speaking events. Details and links found here, on my speaking page.
If you feel it is the season that you need to bring peace to a frenzied soul, patience to a critical voice, and love to hurried home, please consider one of my three books. My latest daily inspiration book, ONLY LOVE TODAY, is a National bestseller and is available at Target, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon. Bring more love, presence, and peace to each day. Thank you for all your love and support.
Carey H says
This one makes me cry every time I read it. My younger daughter deals with anxiety on a daily basis, and I have learned over the years that the most important thing I can do for her is make sure she knows where I am and how to reach me. She can get through anything as long as she knows she can call me if she needs me.
Rachel Stafford says
Thank you, Carey. You are ‘one who can be counted on’ and that is a very special trait.
Angela says
My whole life, my family has always waved goodbye from the front porch – – no matter the weather, no matter the hour, no matter how frequent the visit. No matter where you are going, they wave as if you are leaving on a long journey. They wave until the car is out of sight, and only then shut the door and turn out the light. I remember waving from the car as a child and seeing my grandparents, my aunts and uncles, and later, my parents, my sisters and brothers, waving back. I never knew that not everyone did this until I got married. Leaving my in-laws’ homes after a visit, the porch would always be dark and empty before we even got into the car. It just doesn’t feel as good.
I am happy to pass down my family’s centuries old good-bye tradition to my children. They are porch wavers, too.
Rachel Stafford says
Oh Angela. I come from a family of porch wavers too. And you are right — there is so much significance in that beautiful gesture. Thank you for being here and bringing smile to my weary heart tonight.
Kelly Balarie says
Sweet encouragement today, my friend. XOXO
Sarah says
Another wonderfully insightful blog, Rachel you help us make sense of the world. I will make sure my children know where their people are. Even as an adult I need to know where my people are, if I don’t know where my husband, my parents are, I am extremely anxious…. Your post made me realise if I am that anxious as a grown woman, the fear for a child would be even more intense.
Jess says
This is just an amazing story!