Childhood truama

I understand Childhood trauma very well and have a huge heart for those who experience it. Thursday I sat down on the bench at lunch recess beside a girl who I knew from Kindergarten last year. I asked her was she looking forward to her summer. She put her thumbs down and I asked her why and she told me that she loves school so much. I then asked her what was she going to do this summer. She told me she’s waiting for her dad to get his cast off his leg. I asked her did your dad break his leg and she said that he had a operation to fix his leg.

She then proceeded to tell me that her dad owned a store in Iraq and one day he was working there and people came in and shot him in the leg three times in a robbery. He had to have surgery in Iraq but it didn’t work so he was able to have it here. I told her I was so glad that she and her family where able to come to Canada and feel safe. She then told me that people in her neighborhood have been breaking into cars and making the neighbourhood unsafe. She told me she’s not allowed outside to play anymore unless she has an adult with her.

I sat listening to her and can’t imagine all that’s she’s seen with the war in Iraq. She told me her cousins, grandparents and her other family she’s not seen in a long time. I was so glad to hear they had come to Canada so that they could feel safe again but my heart broke to hear they still were living in fear. This would bring up the trauma they had seen back in Iraq.

I think of the many families that come to my school that have come from places with war. War effects everyone and doesn’t just go away because you move. PTSD is real. Trust is huge for them and feeling safe but it constantly puts you on guard.

I asked her when your dad gets off his cast off what things she likes to do with him. She said he plays, they go places and he’s so much fun. We talked about other things she likes to do and she said that’s why she liked school because it was a safe place for her and her family. We never know what people are carrying around. This is a lot for a 7 year old child. I told her that if she ever needed to talk or Anything I was there for her. She smiled and ran off to play. 🙂