The Mirror People- A Love Letter to the Children We Forget to See

by : Bihag Trivedi

They walk among us.

You’ve seen them, legs too short to keep up, hearts too big to hold back. They run through supermarkets in superhero capes, interrupt Zoom calls to show you a scribble, and ask questions no adult dares to answer honestly.

We call them kids. But maybe they’re something more.

Maybe they’re mirrors. Soft, loud, honest mirrors.The last humans who don’t know how to fake.

They are fierce. Funny. Fragile. And terrifyingly real.

Children Are Not Just Little People

We like to believe we’re raising children. But more often, we’re reflecting on them.

They don’t wear masks. They don’t shrink their feelings to make you comfortable.

When they’re happy, it fills the room . When they’re hurt, the silence is thunder.

But what truly breaks them? It’s not always dramatic.

• It’s your rushed “Hmm.”

• The way you choose your phone over their drawing.

• The repeated, “Not now, baby.”

• Every day.For months.

They remember everything you forgot to notice.

 They're Not Acting Out, They're Reaching Out

They’re not “too clingy.”They’re trying not to be left behind. They’re not throwing tantrums. They’re crying for connection.

And they ask things like:

“Why do people lie?

“Why can’t grown-ups say sorry?

“Why do you hug your phone more than me?”

And we laugh. Or ignore them. Or call them immature.

But Here’s the Truth

They’re not just being raised. They’re being downloaded.

They learn how to love, speak, shout, or disappear by watching the grown-ups in the room.

They don’t learn from what we say. They learn from:

• How do we say “goodnight”

• How do we react when they spill juice

• How our face changes when they walk into the room

We Don’t Raise Children, We Reflect Into Them

One day, they will reflect us into the world.

Our patience.Our anger.Our joy.Our neglect.

Perhaps, instead of only planning for their future, we should start showing up in their present.

• Look them in the eyes.

• Say sorry when you snap.

• Celebrate their scribbles like cathedrals.

• Sit beside them, without a phone, without a checklist.

The Day Will Come…

That day when they stop asking you to play. Stop yelling your name from the other room. Stop waiting to show you a leaf they found or a doodle they drew.

And when that day comes, you’ll wish you had answered more of those tiny calls that felt like interruptions, but were invitations.

Whispers saying:

“Please see me . Please remember who I am before the world tells me who to be.”

🌱 Final Thoughts

This blog isn’t just for parents.

It’s for teachers, Neighbours, Managers, and Strangers. Anyone who’s ever looked away when they should’ve looked closer.

So tonight, pause. Notice a child . Look at them like they’re holding up a mirror.

Because maybe, they are.

--- Bihag ( All © Reserved )

#Children, #Parenting, #Emotional #Intelligence, #SelfAwareness, #Relationships, #Mindfulness, #HumanConnection, #Education, #ChildPsychology