National Teen Self Esteem ~ Instagram Hop with Whimsy Stamps

Welcome to the National Teen Self Esteem Hop ~ #nationalteenselfesteemhop21

Thank you for stopping by my blog today, if you've not visited before, welcome and thank you for visiting. I'm taking part in an Instagram Hop which is very close to my heart. Having had a number of family and friends affected by Mental Health challenges, I really wanted to take part in this hop and help raise awareness of the need to support and hear our young ones who are struggling in these challenging modern times. Never has the need been greater to listen to, uplift and support our teens and the statistics of young ones struggling reflects this.

 

A great group of crafters have come together to spread love, joy and encouragement to our younger generation.  Do you have a teenager in your household or maybe a younger child who struggle with Self Esteem, please share with them the lovely projects in this hop and maybe they can take some encouragement away from it! Don’t worry you have 7 days to hop along so feel free to keep popping back! 

HOW TO ENTER: 

1) Be following me on Instagram @craftykiwimama
2) Like and leave a comment on this post on my Instagram Channel
3) BONUS: visit each participant of this hop and do the same. The more you hop, follow and comment the more chances you have of winning one of our amazing sponsor prizes

You can head to my Instagram post here: @craftykiwimama

Your next stop after my Instagram Post is: @scrappytailscrafts

Please give our sponsors below a visit and show them some love too! If you get lost along the way please visit @jasmincraftymakes to find the full line up!

You have until 22^nd May to hop along; winners will be announced 24^th May on @jasmincraftymakes IG

Sponsor Prizes:

@craftypurplefrog 10% discount throughout the hop, £10 prize voucher to the store and FREE Designer digital paper for all participants during the time of the hop!

@thepapergardengals - $15 voucher to the Etsy Store

@kitandclowder – 3 x $15 (AUD) vouchers

@janesdoodles - $25 voucher

@timeforteadesigns - £20 voucher

@artful.angel - $20 (USD) gift certificate

@makeitbymarko – 2 x $20 vouchers to the Etsy Store

@rachelleannmillerart - $20 voucher

@lucyabrahams - $20 gift certificate

@whimsystamps - $20 voucher  https://whimsystamps.com/

@wizardessofcards - $20 voucher to Whimsy Stamps

@sweetnovemberstamps - $20 voucher

@jude_creates1 - 2 x £15 vouchers

@scrappytails - $25 voucher

@lawnfawn - $25 voucher

@heffydoodle - £20 voucher

@altenew - $30 voucher   https://blog.altenew.com/   https://mixedmedia.altenew.com/  

@icrafter - $5 off any $25 or more order

@pinkandmain - $25 surprise pack (Free US shipping, international winners will need to pay postage)

Per Instagram rules, this promotion is in no way sponsored, administered, or associated with Instagram Inc. By entering, entrants confirm that they are 13+ years of age, release Instagram of responsibility, and agree to Instagram's terms of use.

I chose for my creation, to show a little of the struggle I've seen in those I love that have battled with self esteem issues, body dysmorphia, struggles with peer pressure and bullying. There are times when it can feel all consuming, the anxiety, depression and agoraphobia that can develop from these struggles. I tried to depict that sense of struggle with life around them feeling messy and overwhelming and used a splatter stamp set from Whimsy Stamps to create this messy background. I used a couple of sentiments which are from a fun teen set by Whimsy Stamps that is supposed to be light hearted and cheeky, however for my creation I've allowed this to reflect a little more of the isolation and darkness that is felt with depression. Right down to the knee jerk reaction of wanting to yell, 'this IS my happy face' when well meaning adults try to cheer teens up.

I've learnt that listening and just 'being there' can be the most helpful and stabilising when teens are struggling. Not trivialising our teens concerns and worries, but taking time to be with them or give them space too, as this is sometimes what they need. Seeking help before things get overwhelming is important too. Impartial trained professionals can often reach and help our teens when they need it most. It's okay to ask for help!

Whimsy Stamps has a fun 'UGH' diecut which I think reflects very well the feeling of exhaustion and lack of ability to try even with the simplest everyday tasks when a teen is really overwhelmed. I chose a very monochrome palette, because everything feels 'black' when depression hits. I wanted to empathise with any of our teens feeling this way right now, I hope one day soon, they will feel better, feel hopeful, feel safe, feel strong, but for right now, I just wanted to let them 'be' where they are and my card reflects this.

The physical and emotional changes that our teens go through during their highschool years are challenging enough, without adding anxiety, depression and other mental health challenges into the mix. There may be good days and really not so good days, but underneath it all, they are still our precious little people trying to navigate and steer a fast paced, demanding world. It's okay if we just sit and be silent together for a while. What I'm sharing is in no way prescriptive, just observations of a mama, who has seen some really difficult days in her wider family, has struggled with an overburdened mental health system here in New Zealand and had to fight to get care and support for ones I love.

Thanks for visiting today, be sure to stop by the next crafter in the hop @scrappytailscrafts and be sure to visit our amazing sponsors of which Whimsy Stamps is one. Remember to visit my Instagram post to be in with a chance to win the prizes. This format gave me a little more room to share my experiences and share a little why this hop is so important for me to be a part of. Yes, my card is not a 'warm and fluffy' card, it's an 'it's okay to be right were you are, right now' card. So I hope you'll see my heart in this creation. Hugs to all of you touched by Mental Health challenges in your family, friends and those you love. Keep being there, keep listening and keep loving. Hugs, Wends xoxo