Perhaps it is my mental illness that makes me feel the need to help my daughter to be happy with life.  Questions in my head revolved around: what can I do to help?  Am I doing my job helping her?  Is she going to find her way?

During lunch with her today, I thought about all these questions and uttered them.  Her response was that she was stressed and asked why parents always ask their children, why are they depressed.  My response:  I just listened and really felt that I did not need to add more.  The lunch date did not end well.

When my daughter and I reached home, I thought that, like what I have been reading, social media is the culprit of her stress.  Boy was I wrong to categorize my daughter.

The moment we were home, although she went on youtube, she was smiling and relaxed.  Also, she initiated that she would continue on her painting project requested by a classmate.  Her whole demeanor changed.  She was happy (and relieved to be home).

I realized that I had nothing to worry about.  I also realized that my child is not to be categorized into studies on why children are stressed.  By attempting to categorize her was to not see her for her uniqueness and individuality.  By attempting to categorize her, I was not recognizing how God has made us in His own image.  To recognize this,  I needed to trust God that over the years He has guided me through faith and the Holy Scripture, in bringing up my daughter.  There is much to tell and even more with the persistence in prayer.  He taught confidence, love, kindness, humility, etc. growing virtues each and every day.  Social media can be used for good.  That is what I use it for.  And, that is what my daughter is picking up on with guidance (. . .she was watching a fox picking up an egg. . .).

I watched her innocent laugh, about things she watched on youtube. . .so, as I worried earlier on the day, I now trust the Lord even more in what He teaches me in my quest to be a good Catholic with the help of social media.