a brief conversation with my son

Son: “What are those stripes on your arm?”
Mom: “Scars”
Son: “That many?”
Mom: “Yes.”
Son: “Oh”
No further questions were asked. #selfharm

— Cathy (@micqu1) May 14, 2017

 

Today, my son asked about the stripes on my arm. I told him that they are scars. My heart began pounding… I am not ready to have that conversation. Not when I am still dealing with it.
I am not ashamed. I am just not sure how to explain it without sounding pathetic and at the same time, teaching him that it is a harmful way to deal with pain and frustration… The above is an exact transcript of what was said.

xx

 

(On this picture, you can only see the bigger scars, there are faint ones you can almost only see when you really look for them… apparently, he did. Also, I am not sure why the scars are this swollen today)