Can you remember what it was like to be a child? I can, sort of… but mostly in flashes. As we grow up, we slowly forget our little selves—and that’s exactly what happened to me. The moment I turned 18, my younger self felt like a distant dream, just background chatter in my brain, like some old cartoon playing on a loop I couldn’t turn off.
As adults, it’s so easy to forget the foundation that makes us who we are. I’ll be honest—because this blog is all about being raw and real—I have a wounded inner child. And right now, I’m trying to heal her. Honestly, she’s a little dramatic, throws the occasional tantrum, and insists on ice cream for breakfast—but hey, who wouldn’t want to understand that version of themselves?
How do I plan on understanding my inner child? Well, the first step is acknowledging that she exists—and that’s often harder than it sounds. What adult really wants to admit that the way they handle their emotions might be rooted in their inner child? For the longest time, I ignored mine.
Then something happened that gave me a real epiphany. Back when I was a young mother with three kids aged 6, 4, and 2, I would get overwhelmed so easily. I was trying to go to college while keeping the house as organized as possible with three little ones running around. I admit, I yelled a lot. I lost my temper more than I care to remember. My children would often quiet down when I got frustrated. Looking back, I realize I was parenting the way I had seen my parents handle six kids—without truly understanding what that meant for my own children or for myself.
Our triggers as adults—those little buttons that get pressed in an instant—often trace back to the injustices we felt as children. If we face them head-on, we might just grow into better versions of ourselves. But here’s the thing: we forget we even have an inner child waiting in the wings.
I’m not here as a psychiatrist—or claiming to have all the answers. I’m speaking from a vulnerable place, challenging myself to reconnect with my inner little girl. To ask questions like, Why do certain situations set me off so easily? I’m not saying every adult struggles with this, and I’m certainly no expert.
To make it easier to picture, think about the movie The Adam Project. The story is wild: a guy from the future tries to come back to find his wife, but the landing goes wrong, and instead, he ends up running into his 12-year-old self. Imagine that—the awkwardness, the confusion, the chaos! But also, the chance to understand your younger self, to face the past, and maybe even offer a little reassurance.
That’s exactly what I’m trying to do with my inner child—face her, talk to her, and maybe give her the love and understanding she didn’t always get. It’s scary, awkward, and yes, sometimes hilarious—but also incredibly healing. And honestly, who wouldn’t want a little time-travel moment to hug their younger self and tell her, It’s going to be okay?
To make it easier to picture, think about the movie The Adam Project. Ryan Reynolds plays Adam, a guy who accidentally bumps into his 12-year-old self while time traveling. If you know Ryan Reynolds, you know he’s sarcastically funny—and he wastes no time being mean to his younger self, calling him weak and pathetic. Long story short (without spoiling too much), the movie is really about learning to listen to your inner child and work together—even when it’s awkward, frustrating, or hilariously insulting.
That’s kind of what I’m trying to do with my own inner child—face her, talk to her, and maybe give her the love and understanding she didn’t always get. It’s scary, awkward, and yes, sometimes hilarious—but also incredibly healing. And honestly, who wouldn’t want a little time-travel moment to tell their younger self, You’ve got this… and stop crying over spilled milk!
If you take a moment to reflect and realize you have an inner child wound, that’s actually the first step in the healing process. I’ll end things here, but before I go, I want to say this: the purpose of this blog isn’t to accuse anyone of having a wounded inner child. It’s simply to encourage anyone reading this who knows their little self needs attention—you’re not alone. That little version of you needs your love and care more than you might realize.
I hope you enjoyed this unusual topic, and I wish you a truly blessed day. If you did enjoy this post, feel free to sign up for my newsletter so you don’t miss anything new—I’d love to stay connected. And of course, I’d love to hear from you, so leave a comment if you can. If you’re a little shy, that’s okay—just hitting the like button works too.