The Tree of Influence
From the HEART, the tree can bloom.
War, climate, (social) media, and the fear of publicly expressing who you are (LGBTQI+) are topics that many children and young people are very concerned about. And not surprisingly, in this changing world we live in today. I too get a stomach ache from time to time when I watch the news and yet, time and again, I choose to do the things that I DO have a say in, focus on what I myself can WeL control. This is exactly what these worried children, youngsters and their parents also need. Hence my new painting 'the Tree of Influence'.
On the inside of the tree are all the initiatives that children themselves took up from their HEART and through which they revived and grew. From giving a talk on peace, selling cupcakes for charity, chalking rainbows on the pavement, deleting apps to tile-swapping with their parents. It's all in this tree. Feeling that they are actively participating again, instead of watching helplessly, is what gives them self-confidence.
I am Kim Aukema Imthorn, 38 years old, and I live in Haarlem with my family. As a child therapist and coach, I work daily with children to strengthen their self-confidence and help them with their emotional and mental development. My holistic approach looks at the child.. Read more…