Mentorship and Sparkly Kids
Mother’s Day isn’t easy for everyone. For me, it’s layered — my mother left when I was young and passed away recently. Becoming a father helped me grieve and see what I missed. Mentors once saw a spark in me I couldn’t see. Be that person for someone. You might change their life.
Mother’s Day was not easy for everyone.
For some, it’s a celebration. For others — like me — it’s complicated. And this year, it’s even heavier. My mother, who had long been estranged from my life, passed away just a few months ago.
She left when I was young. In and out for years, but never truly present. Never the mother figure I needed. As a child, I didn’t fully grasp the weight of that absence — but I felt it deeply.
Oddly enough, I didn’t begin to grieve that loss until I became a father myself. Watching my wife raise our sons with grace, presence, and fierce love gave me something I had never seen before: a living example of what exceptional mothering can be. I wish I had a Mother like her.
Some children who face early loss develop something psychologists call a “spark.” A strange intensity. An emotional radar. A drive to become the person they wish had been there for them. These kids are sometimes called “charismatic survivors” or “sparkly kids.” They often draw in mentors and allies who see their potential — even when they can’t see it themselves.
That was me.
I never had a name for it at the time. But I attracted mentors, teachers, and kind adults who believed in me. And over time, their belief helped me build something lasting.
Adversity shaped me more than I once wanted to admit. But it also gave me an empathy that can’t be taught. A drive that runs deeper than ambition. A mission to help others feel seen — especially those still trying to find their spark.
If you lead, teach, coach, or mentor — never underestimate the life-changing power of being that “charismatic adult” in someone’s life.
You might be the one who sees the spark before they do. 🔥
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