Let's Talk Life - Life's journey

•  Life's journey

Dear Counsellor,

I have been thinking about life and what I have been called to do. How do you view life?

- Annemarie

Dear Annemarie,

Life is a journey that we experience each day. We have to keep ourselves alive by being cautious in our driving and being wise in risk taking. We need to be aware of what we are eating and the activities in which we engage. Being wise and prudent are important.

We need to forgive ourselves and others and pray daily. Having a positive view of life is important. We need to face reality daily, but we need to problem-solve our issues and plod along. Life is short and we don't know when we will die.

We need to be aware of the feelings of others and treat each other with respect. If each adult is empathetic and respectful, then the children will follow their examples. We need adults to teach the young about kindness and not to be judgmental. We need to view each other with compassion in our hearts and to pray for our brothers. Sometimes we find ourselves in compromising situations and we need to pray to God for guidance.

Children learn by copying others and experimenting. The adults need to be good role models so that the next generation can also be good role models.

Decision making and goal setting are important and we as adults need to show children how to do these things. We need to plan our lives and know our agenda. We need to support each other and encourage children to do well in school.

We need to be helpful and volunteer to help the less fortunate. We are blessed by God to be a blessing to others. Live well with others and work on improving your interpersonal skills. Teach children to be in touch with their feelings so that they will know when someone has done them wrong. Teach children refusal skills so that they can refuse to smoke or drink alcohol or engage in premarital sex.

We need to take good care of ourselves so that we can see clearly to take care of others.

• Teacher's demise

Dear Counsellor,

My daughter's class teacher has died and my daughter is very sad about the loss. My daughter attends an elementary school and is in grade five and was close to the teacher. I have been trying to console her but she cries a lot.

- Tiffany

Dear Tiffany,

It must be sad for your daughter and you. Children in elementary school are very attached to their teachers. Teachers are never wrong and sometimes children view their teachers as heroes.

Give her plenty of attention and explain that the teacher is gone but mommy is here to comfort her. People cannot be replaced, but after a time, your daughter will accept that the teacher is gone for good. Have her write a letter to her teacher telling her about her feelings and that she misses her. She should take part in activities at school.

Take her to the funeral so that she can say her goodbyes.

Your daughter may regress in her behaviour and cling to you for a while. Hug her and pray with her. She is learning about death and how painful it is. Encourage her to talk with you about the teacher. The good memories that she has about the teacher will stay with her.

Email questions and feedback for Dr Yvonnie Bailey-Davidson to yvonniebd@hotmail.com or call 978-8602.