It’s every parent's worst nightmare. Your child is missing. I was watching a television show with the kids where the main character’s little girl wandered off. She was found safe and sound, and I’m not going to lie when I say I teared up at the reunion. The mother immediately chastised the little girl for wandering off and worrying everyone. In the show, they were preparing a feast to welcome their ancestors, and the little girl’s mom was an orphan. She went to the roof of her building to try to get a plane to take her to heaven so she could bring her mom’s ancestors back. You don’t have to believe the show's mythology. What I found so interesting is how adults jump to conclusions about a child’s motivation. Most parents think that their kids wake up and plot how to ruin their day. That’s like the energy of the Five of Pentacles card, where we see only scarcity and fear and ignore the warm, welcoming light coming through a stained-glass window.
Every week, we explore a Tarot card because Tarot is rich in symbolism and helps us pause, step out of panic, and tap into our intuition. This allows us to shift our mindset and move from overwhelm to action.
Card of the Week: The Five of Pentacles
Two figures wearing rags walk, shivering through the snow. One uses crutches. They are worn out and fail to notice a huge, warm, inviting stained-glass windowpane. The pane depicts a fortress or castle gate with five pentacles shaped like an anchor surrounded by vines and roses.
The Pattern It Reveals
Our perception becomes our reality. Most people associate this card with financial hardship. I see two people so focused on their misery and suffering that they don’t notice the warmth of the stained-glass window. Most churches of the time were known for charity and helping the helpless. If nothing else, they could come in from the cold. How many times do we catastrophize when things go wrong? Is your default the worst-case scenario? The mom on TV thought her kid ran away. She immediately assumed the kid wanted to worry her or that she was failing as a parent. The little girl thought she was trying to help her mommy and meant well.
The Question Worth Asking
How does my child see this situation?
This same pattern shows up beyond parenting. Mel Robbins said it well: “Most adults are just 8-year-old children inside of big bodies.” We had a new Sales VP, and he asked a lot of questions. Most of my team thought he thought they were failing and was challenging them. One of my co-workers, who worked under his leadership in a different capacity, shared that he was very curious and asked questions to understand. This was a new situation for him, and he was trying to get the lay of the land. Every day is a new situation for kids. They are navigating uncertainty and an ever-changing landscape. Instead of assuming the worst, what if we met their questions with curiosity? What information are they looking to find? You deal with big kids at work, so I know you have the ability to create understanding with your own kids.
One Small Experiment to Try This Week
Notice how you react when your kid asks you a question or behaves in a way that feels challenging. Maybe you yell, or maybe you get defensive. Observe how you react this week and notice any patterns. When are you more likely to have a negative reaction? When are you more likely to have a positive interpretation?
Do you feel like you are always on edge? When was the last time you took a moment to breathe and decompress? I often noticed my hands clenched into fists and that I hadn't truly breathed in quite some time. When I gave myself time to calm down and reflect, I could see the situation clearly. I designed the Deep Calm Session to help parents relax and view their situation objectively. It’s a 40-minute 1:1 call where I walk you through the CALM framework. Most parents reduce their stress levels by three or four points and gain powerful, actionable insights. You’ll move from feeling stuck and trapped in the cold to seeing the stained-glass window of opportunity. Leave feeling equipped to be the parent you always wanted to be. Stop beating yourself up and save your spot today.
About The Author
Hi, friends 👋🏽. I'm Stacy Casson, a Lean Six Sigma certified mom of five. I used to hold a PhD in creating chaos. Now, I help other busy, overwhelmed parents move from Chief Doing Officer to Trusted Advisor and reclaim their peace.
