Family Communication

How do disasters impact the of young children? How can you help families with kids cope with in the aftermath?

I had the chance to share my personal reflections on what the August 2020 taught me, and taught the families of Beirut, in Journal:

https://bit.ly/ECM2021-12

Helping families to cope with trauma in Lebanon – Early Childhood Matters On 4 August 2020 at 6:07 p.m., Beirut shook violently. A monstrous blast wave radiated through the city, shattering walls, glass and bodies. From around town and beyond, survivors saw a mammoth, reddish mushroom cloud hovering over the Port of Beirut.

“Alhamdulillah” is the most frequent word I heard from people around me during the past days.. It is disastrous, heart wrenching, unfair and absolutely devastating, but -despite the atomic level of the tragedy- it could have been even worse.
I keep hearing stories of miraculous survival. Last-minute decisions or unintentional moves that spared so many people from death.
My wife and I are living examples of this. We should have been at the office, few blocks away from the explosion but my wife cancelled her class last minute due to illness.
We are devastated about the people who were not as fortunate. May God bless their souls and heal their wounds. But we also know that, given the size of the explosion, the entirety of Beirut would have been obliterated if it wasn’t for God’s benevolence.
As research shows, spirituality in traumatic times is essential and healing. It gives perspective and hope amidst the darkness. Regardless of what your faith is, seek some comfort in a larger power.