What Makes My Kids Cry Today

By Lizzie @ What Makes My Kid Cry Today

Real Life. Real Laughs. Real Jesus.

What made my kid cry today?

My 6year old came to me in full distress:

“Mom, my back itches. There’s fleas in me!”

Not on me.

In me.

Full panic. Full-body squirming.

We’re talking emotional DEFCON 1.

Naturally, I checked his back.

No fleas. No rash. Not even a bump.

Just one slightly itchy spot that probably came from sitting shirtless on the porch steps for 2.3 seconds.

But try explaining that to a panicked 5-year-old who’s convinced he has internal parasites now.

Tears. Wailing. Flailing.

“There’s fleas in me!”

😂 Real Mom Thoughts:

Part of me wanted to laugh.

Another part wanted to Google, “Can kids actually get fleas in their spine?” just in case.

But mostly, I just hugged him.

I scratched his back.

I told him he was okay.

And I thought: Wow, I do this too.

💛 Faith Tie-In:

How many times have I felt something itchy—something uncomfortable, off, wrong—and immediately spiraled into worst-case-scenario thinking?

— A hard conversation = everyone hates me

— A delay in plans = God’s forgotten me

— An unexpected challenge = this will ruin everything

I panic.

I assume the worst.

I cry, “God, there’s something wrong in me!”

And what does God do?

He doesn’t mock me.

He doesn’t scold me.

He leans in with love and says,

“You’re okay. I’m here. Let’s calm down and check it out together.”

✨ Devotional Reflection:

“Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”

— 1 Peter 5:7

👩‍👦‍👦 Motherhood + Discipleship Moment:

Sometimes the “fleas” aren’t real.

Sometimes they are.

But either way, my job as a mom isn’t to lecture—it’s to lead with love.

To teach my kids that it’s okay to be anxious, but they’re not alone.

That they can come to me—and to God—with all their worries.

Even the ones that make no sense.

Especially those.

🙃 Closing Encouragement:

We’re not here to fix every itch before it starts.

We’re here to be a safe place when the panic hits.

Just like God is for us.

So today, when your kid cries over something imaginary, ridiculous, or overblown?

Scratch their back.

Hug them tight.

And remind yourself:

There’s grace for imaginary fleas.

What’s the wildest thing your kid has panicked over lately?

Or what’s your grown-up version of a “there’s fleas in me” moment?

I’d love to laugh—and pray—alongside you 💛