History of Relationships
As caregivers we have to understand that relationships will look different for everyone. Even if we went through similar or the same events, our perception of that relationship will be different. We have to consider how a past experience with a relationship can impact the way in which we engage with people and the way people will engage with us. This can be hard to do and sometimes we may not realize we allow our history of relationships to impact our interactions with others.
It is also extremely important that we consider possible trauma that may be associated with relationships.
Consider a child who has been expelled from multiple educational programs due to struggling with ADHD. The caregivers are at a loss on how to help their even after working with their pediatrician and a behavioral therapist. This child begins to believe that there is something wrong with them due to the rejection and that nothing is helping them.
As the child grows and develops, this belief that there is something wrong with them starts to impacts their relationships with others. For example, whenever a friend asks them to do something, they fear rejection if they do not do what is being asked of them well enough.
How can we prevent a situation like this in happening?
By recognizing the child’s struggles and providing support early to both the child and the caregivers could of prevented the expulsion from educational programs from happening in the first place and provide the child with a more positive self-image.