When my baby girl was eight months old, she nearly died because she ate a smidgen of cheese. One minute, she was crawling happily around the kitchen floor, and the next she was strapped to a gurney, screaming and crying as I chased along beside her to the ambulance. When she was diagnosed shortly afterward with multiple life-threatening food allergies, I felt like I’d been thrust into an unknown world with no direction and no safety net. What could she possibly eat? How would I keep my girl safe? Something devastating had upended our lives, and I suddenly felt out of control. Hopeless.
I don’t think the shock of her diagnosis has ever fully worn off, but after a couple months, I realized I had two choices: to wallow in misery or mom up and do my best for my daughter. Obviously, I chose the second. What got me there was having hope. Hope has since carried me forward through so many setbacks relating to my daughter’s health, and—after a dozen years—has, no doubt, helped her and our family thrive. Life is full of unexpected twists and rough patches. One of the keys to getting through them is having hope. Here are 5 reasons to have hope and why you and your child should never give it up.
1. With hope, there’s always possibility.
“I just want to pass,” my son said recently. I saw this statement as one that lacked hope. “If your expectations are so low, your chance of scoring higher decreases,” I told him. “Why not hope for more? Shoot for a B. And study,” I said. If there’s no hope, there’s no effort. The two are tied. So if you or your child have even a little bit of hope, my guess is more trying will be involved, thus increasing the odds of achieving whatever it is you want.
2. With hope, it’s easier to maintain a positive attitude.
According to Casey Gwinn at the Alliance for Hope International, “Hope is the belief that your future can be better than your past and that you play a role in making it happen.” When my daughter’s best friend moved away, my daughter was devastated. They’d been best buds for years. But we had to hope she’d meet new friends. At first, she resisted. She wanted Natalie back! But with time and encouragement, she began to hope for someone new. She stopped moping on the playground and started joining in with others. Even though Natalie still holds a special place in her heart, having hope has led to new friendships.
3. With hope, you’re more equipped to set new goals.
Hope keeps us going forward, looking toward the future and what’s to come. When I was little, I wrote stories for fun and wanted to be an “author” when I grew up. Years later, babies came, but I kept writing, hoping that one day I’d turn writing into a career. Through other jobs and bumps and twists along the way, I always kept this goal in mind, hoping that someday, I’d achieve my childhood dream. And finally, I did, at the right time too. Moms, never give up hope. Dreams can come true, even if they come years after you expect them.
Moms, never give up hope. Dreams can come true, even if they come years after you expect them. Click To Tweet4. With hope, you’re able to bounce back better after difficulties.
We’ve all been brought down by crushing blows and bad news. But after that settles, find some hope to continue on. When a prestigious allergy doctor told me that my 8-year-old daughter would never be able to drink milk, I was angry. But I refused to let him steal my hope and I resolved to find a way. I switched doctors and found one who shared my hope. With him, my daughter bravely started a program to desensitize her to milk products. And last summer, weeks before her 12th birthday, she ate pizza for the first time. By having hope, you’re building resiliency. You’re persevering. You’re fighting back against anyone or anything that steps in your way.
5. With hope, you’re able to thrive, not just survive.
Hope makes us happier. Instead of just getting by, we’re shooting for something better. “I’m hopeful we’ll go to Paris someday,” I told my daughter recently. “And you’ll be able to pick any candy you want from the patisserie.” She smiled, her eyes alight. Together, we’re overcoming what was once so daunting. She sees my hope and she carries it herself. “Can we go this summer?” she asked. I laughed. “Let’s start with the bakery down the street.” The world opens up when hope comes in and suddenly, possibilities are everywhere.
There are many reasons to have hope. What do you and your child hope for together?
