Where It Hurts: A Child's Growing Pains

Full transcript

Late at night, in a quiet bedroom, a young boy sits alone on the edge of his rumpled bed. His shoulders slump, his arms wrap tightly around his body, and his face shows quiet discomfort and worry. A soft marker glows on his left shoulder, then another appears on his right shoulder, showing where the ache begins. The pain creeps further down, settling into his elbow and forearm, making even small movements feel heavy and tiring. Deep in his middle, his stomach tightens too, adding to the discomfort spreading quietly through his small body. Both knees throb, and his ankles ache beneath his mismatched socks, marking the joints that hurt the most tonight. These scattered aches across his body are signs every parent should notice—gentle reminders that growing up can sometimes hurt.