A contemplative practice of being fully present to your child's emotions, questions, and identity without the impulse to explain, console, or redirect.
Rabia's love of the Divine was characterized by profound attention and presence—bearing witness to mystery without needing to resolve or understand it. For adoptive parents, this concept invites the practice of witnessing: being present to your child's anger about adoption, their grief about origins they may never know, their questions about identity and belonging, without immediately trying to fix, explain away, or redirect these feelings. Many well-intentioned parents respond to a child's adoption-related sadness with reassurance ('but we chose you, we love you'), which unintentionally silences the child's legitimate pain. Witnessing instead means staying present to the feeling, naming it ('I see this hurts'), and trusting that your calm presence itself is healing. This practice honors the child's inner life as worthy of attention in itself, not as a problem to be solved. Over time, children who are witnessed in their complexity develop stronger sense of self and deeper trust in their parent's capacity to hold their reality without needing them to be different.
Peri can explain this concept, give practical examples, help you decide whether it applies to your situation, or recommend a journey if appropriate.
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