The inspiration for Empathy Armour:

My darling,

Bringing you into this world, I failed to consider my own fragility.

I believed I was strong until I had you…

As soon as you were put into my arms I realised instantly how vulnerable I had become. You are my weakness and strength at the same time...

With your arrival, my true strength erupted. With with your arrival, my vulnerability became apparent.

I cannot always be there, I cannot fight your battles, I can only feel them…

They cut as deep as a knife.

In a desperate attempt to protect you in this world- I made you something. Because, in bringing you into the world I already feel the need to apologise…

As you enter the world you will come across many faces, many types of people…

Unfortunately, not all will be honourable, not all will want the best for you.

So I made you this piece of armour…

Wear it into the world- let the people who meet you see themselves; let them consider their first words, how they look at you, let them consider how they touch you…

Because my darling, as they see themselves in the mirror they will have the briefest opportunity to consider how it would feel…

To be handled without consent, undermined, judged, manipulated…

Let them consider their actions before they utter their first word…

May their eyes pass over you, as they would want to be met themselves.

Darling… I am flawed, I don’t have all the answers, I’m still learning myself…

Yet please remember:

Do no harm, try your best, but take no shit.

Never be frightened of shouting when you feel the need to scream…

I will stand by you.

I love you.

‘A letter to my Children’

By, Jennifer Hackett