I am a mother. A housewife from Rizal. I thought I knew my 15-year-old son completely.
One afternoon, after his shower, I saw something. My hands were shaking. I wanted to scream. I wanted to get angry. I wanted to cry.
But I looked at him. He was shaking too. He was scared.
That's when I realized, if I shout at him, he will be more scared. He will hide more.
So I sat down. I said, "Son, can we talk? I will not be angry. I just want to understand."
He cried. I cried too.
He said, "Ma, I don't know how to say that I'm already struggling so much."
At 15 years old, he was already carrying so much weight. Pressure from school, from friends, from himself.
That's where it all started.
I am not a doctor. I know nothing about psychology. But I know how to be a mother.
And as a mother, the first thing I did was ask for help. I went to his guidance counselor at school the next day.
So in this book, I will share what we did every day. The simple talk after school.
If you are reading this and your child is going through the same thing, a tight hug for you, my fellow mother. It is not your fault. And it is not too late.
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Important Note: This book is not a replacement for professional help. If you or your child is in crisis, please contact the NCMH Crisis Hotline: 1553 (toll-free) or 0919-057-1553 / 0917-899-8727
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Mother's Guide
Non-FictionA mother's true story. My 15-year-old son struggled with self-harm. I learned that shouting doesn't help. What helped was TALK, UNDERSTAND, RESPECT. I gave him 30 minutes every day after school. I joined his world - biking, limited edition cars, hyb...
