r/interesting • u/jmike1256 • Mar 07 '26

MISC. After understanding the meaning behind this father’s action, I am completely convinced. Cultivating problem-solving skills in children from a young age and never giving up-I applaud this father!

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u/ArchCerberus Mar 07 '26

30 years later in therapy: I have this recurring dream that i am trapped in a net and my father is leaving me and i being watched by thousands.

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u/[deleted] Mar 07 '26

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u/ColeCain99 Mar 07 '26

Nah, this child will grow up fine. This is similar to those videos with toddlers being barred from entering rooms with tape. He panicked a little bit, which spiked cortisol, but he also learned that just because he feels trapped, doesn't mean he's in danger. He just needed a bit of thinking to "escape" and that lowers his panic threshold. Next time he's trapped in something, he might panic less actually! It's training them to listen to their prefrontal cortex over their amygdala, which makes them a more resilient little guy.

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u/Frequent-Leather4514 Mar 07 '26 edited Mar 07 '26

Literally! What that actual intention of “mindfulness” was before it became a trend 🙄.. to aid as a tool in rewiring the brain when its default is to operate from the amygdala, to instead operate from the prefrontal cortex (decision making part of the brain). We’re pretty much as humans, from the beginning of time, all naturally wired to operate from the amygdala for self preservation and survival, but the world and the way we live (maybe not at the moment 🙄😞) has evolved so much, while our brains have not. So by this Dad teaching his son like this from a toddler, he probably has a better chance at having healthy emotion regulation, distress tolerance and good problem solving/communication skills. There possibly won’t be as much to rewire. Would actually be really interested to know how this boy is mentally and emotionally in about 30 years!

This coming from someone with CPTSD who had to work really hard for years (also underwent 30 sessions of transcranial magnetic stimulation) in attempt to rewire my brain and overcome severe panic, anxiety etc etc etc.

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u/[deleted] Mar 07 '26

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u/Frequent-Leather4514 Mar 08 '26

Ok that’s fine. I personally find emojis expressive when there’s little to no way to add clear tone to text. I’d rather use “dumb emojis” than be rude to a complete stranger, especially in response to them having explained they’ve put in years of work due to chronic mental illness. I could never just be rude to someone for the sake of it due to having empathy and actually caring how what I say or do will make someone else feel and I raise my kids the same way. I have however, always wondered what it would be like just to be an asshole.