Do you ever feel like the ground’s shifting under your feet, what with all the AI talk these days? Our kids notice it too—those subtle changes in our energy, the way we talk about work, the unspoken worries that sometimes creep in. But here’s the beautiful secret: their healing journey often becomes our own, and it’s in these moments we discover what truly matters.
The Little Ways They Show Us
My daughter, now about seven and full of that wonderful elementary school curiosity, somehow senses when I need that extra hug. She’ll abandon her building blocks to bring me her latest artwork—a colorful mess of crayons and hope. It’s her way of saying, ‘I see you, Dad.’
These tiny moments are like compass points in our family’s journey. They remind us that while jobs may evolve and technology races forward, the human connection remains our anchor.
In the midst of change, our children become our most gentle teachers, showing us how to adapt with grace and wonder.
How Small Moments of Being Seen Build a Safe Harbor
Remember that feeling when someone truly sees you? Not the professional you, but the real you? Our kids are masters of this. How often do we pause to truly see them back?
Last week, we turned our living room into a pillow fort kingdom. No screens, no AI assistants—just laughter echoing under blankets and the shared triumph of architectural genius using every cushion we owned. In that space, we weren’t worrying about the future—we were fully present in the now.
These are the moments that build resilience. When our daughter knows she’s truly seen and loved, she develops that inner strength that no AI can ever replicate. That’s how we future-proof their hearts.
When Their Healing Journey Becomes Our Own
Here’s the magical part: in helping them navigate this changing world, we often heal our own anxieties. That walk to school—just 100 meters but filled with morning discoveries—becomes our daily meditation. Her questions about why leaves change color pull us out of our work worries and into wonder.
What if we embraced AI not as a threat, but as a tool in our parenting toolkit? Maybe it helps us puzzle through a tricky homework question or co-create a story with a new app, but never replaces the joy of our homemade pillow forts.
The journey isn’t about resisting change—it’s about growing together through it. Our children’s resilience becomes our inspiration, their curiosity our reminder to keep learning, their joy our greatest comfort.
Source: Two strategies to succeed when AI seems to be eroding jobs around you, I’d Rather Be Writing, 2025-09-27