
Teaching Kids What to Do with Hurt
From aParently! A Podcast for Parents by Shawn Hopkins
June 8, 2026 · 20 min · Season 4 · Episode 3
About this episode
Shawn discusses how to help children cope with emotional pain and the importance of being present for them.
What do we teach our kids to do when they're hurt? Drawing from his own experiences as a foster and adoptive parent, Shawn shares stories about bedtime conversations, unanswered questions, childhood hurts that linger, and the delicate balance between respecting a child's pace and helping them learn they don't have to carry pain alone. This isn't an episode with easy answers. It's an honest conversation about preparing the space, keeping the invitation open, and showing up again and again—even when the answer is "nothing." If you're raising kids whose stories began before you showed up, this episode is for you. You're doing better than you think you are. Take Good Care, Shawn #FosterCare #Adoption #FosterParenting #AdoptiveParenting #TraumaInformedParenting #ParentingThroughTrauma #RaisingKidsThroughHurt #aParentlyPodcast #ParentingPodcast #Attachment #Healing #ParentSupport
People in this episode
Host: Shawn Hopkins
Topics covered
- parenting
- childhood trauma
- foster care
- adoption
- emotional support
- healing
Keywords
- hurt
- foster parenting
- adoptive parenting
- trauma-informed parenting
- raising kids
- bedtime conversations
- emotional pain
- support
More episodes of aParently! A Podcast for Parents
- Why Foster and Adoptive Kids Test Relationships · June 1, 2026 · 16 min
- When Anger and Revenge Become a Child's Way to Feel Safe · May 26, 2026 · 21 min
- aParently! A Conversation With Brad Sparks · February 2, 2026 · 55 min
- Juan's Adoption Day · January 26, 2026 · 6 min
- aParently! A Conversation about Neurodivergent Parenting · January 19, 2026 · 58 min
- Parenting, The Long Game · January 12, 2026 · 5 min
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