Empathy & Energy

Parenting my son has taught me so much about empathy, energy, and compassion. Being a massage therapist for years, I learned quickly how to protect my energy.

When he has a difficult moment, it’s not just behavior—it’s his way of responding to pain, medical challenges he can’t communicate, or the energy in his environment. The truth is, it’s a combination of factors beyond anyone’s control.

This young man receives numerous alternative therapies that I provide to him. We’re doing everything we can, but adults and children with fragile systems don’t function like “normal” bodies. On any given day, our bodies are bombarded with chemicals, environmental stressors, and challenges—so when a fragile system can’t detox or regulate like a typical one, behaviors may show up.

Even normal bodies struggle with these things, which is why I provide as much as possible for him and myself.

Ignoring challenges isn’t the answer—I, along with Jay’s team, work hard to be proactive and help him communicate. But reliving an incident for months or years isn’t helpful either. He’s not a bad person because he had an episode.

How many of us have felt anger, frustration, or overwhelm? We call that life. Yet when a medically fragile person has a meltdown—something he cannot explain—people judge. How fair is that?

Every challenging incident is a moment to release, learn from, and move forward. For a medically fragile adult, there’s so much happening inside that we may never fully see, and what matters most is patience, understanding, and compassion.

Protecting my energy, and his, is essential. True friendship, care, and support—mean showing up with empathy, not judgment. Let’s focus on understanding and compassion.

-Penny

Jay's House Of Blues - Real life with special needs

If you're walking a similar path or want to follow along with Jeremiah's journey, I share more in real time here - facebook.com/JaysHouseOfBlues