In one of our travels, we made a stop in Rome and went into a pizzeria that specialized in Mediterranean cuisine. The owner was Egyptian.

It was probably one of the tastiest pizzas I've ever had. While we were eating, the owner sat down next to us and struck up a conversation.

After a few minutes I noticed his gaze fixed on the head of my youngest son. He was convinced he was looking at two small bald patches. I smiled and showed him that it was spots with bright hair.

Then he immediately opened up to me: his own five-year-old son had bald patches in his hair.

"It's due to to stress," I explained.

"Stress?" he repeated, astonished. "From what? He's only five years old."

I explained to him that the stress isn't necessarily the child's—it's his stress, passing to the child.

There was a moment of silence. And then something in him became clear.

I saw it on his face — that moment of "How didn't I think of this before?"

"I've been looking for solutions everywhere out there," he continued, "but nothing has helped."

Why is his younger son violent?

This idea, that there was a whole world he hadn't been exposed to, made him reflect on other challenges he was having with his children.

He thought for a few seconds and then blurted out, "And why does my younger son behave so violently?"

I answered, "It comes from a lack of peace at home. And it all starts with you. When you have peace inside, it leads to peace at home too. Stop fighting with your wife."

He smiled at me. It finally clicked.

I realized how important it is for parents to know the power they hold in their hands, and their responsibility as parents to choose peace.

Wishing you peace within yourself and in your home,
❤️ Hannah