The other day, while I was talking with Jessie about how many children seem to be struggling lately - and how helpless so many parents feel watching their child go through something hard - someone suddenly came to mind.

I don’t actually know her very well. She works at the same place as me, and the only real interaction we’ve had was in the kitchen, when she handed me her business card. Since then, I haven’t seen her around, so we haven’t really had a chance to talk. But the receptionist, who seems to know everyone (and yes, she really is a gift from heaven), had mentioned her before. She told me that this woman’s young son is going through a really difficult time, and that she has tried everything and still doesn’t know what to do.

It sounds obvious, right? But it honestly had never even crossed my mind. Even though I’ve seen how much Jessie has helped me, and even though I truly believe in what she does, I’d somehow never connected the dots for someone else. Suddenly I thought, actually… maybe this really could help them.

I don’t know this mum well enough to just walk up and start a conversation about what’s happening with her son. And truthfully, I probably shouldn’t even know what I know. But what I can do is quietly pass on Jessie’s details. No pressure. No big conversation. Just an opening. Just a first step.

I keep thinking about this, because there’s something important here. People are struggling. Parents are struggling. Children are struggling. And so often, we either try to handle everything on our own, or we simply don’t know who to turn to. But what if helping doesn’t always mean having all the answers? What if sometimes it simply means making a connection? One person. One conversation. One introduction.

Because when you know someone genuine, someone who can truly help, and you keep that to yourself, you might be holding the exact link another family desperately needs. And it made me think… what if this is how real support networks are actually built? Not through big systems or perfect solutions, but through people quietly looking out for each other. Passing on names. Passing on hope. Passing on the next small step. One parent to another. One family to another.

I really believe this. Even if it’s only one person at a time, it radiates. It spreads. It creates a ripple that reaches far beyond what we can see in that moment. Lately, I’ve felt so strongly about this, no matter what anyone else thinks or how small it might seem. If we can help just one person, if we can be the bridge for just one family, then it matters.

So maybe it isn’t about trying to fix everything. Maybe it’s about noticing. About listening. About asking yourself, who do I know who could help here? And having the courage to pass that on. Because sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is simply connect one hurting parent with one safe, supportive human. That’s how change really starts. 🩷