We recently had a financial setback, and my spouse and I argued constantly. Our child started acting anxious. How do we protect their sense of security when we feel uncertain ourselves? 

Parenting Perspective 

The Child’s Experience of Uncertainty 

Even in the midst of adult uncertainty, your child seeks signs of safety rather than a solution. Children learn more from tone, body language, and unsaid tension than from words alone. When parents dispute during a stressful situation, the child is uneasy not because of the money, but because something greater and scarier is unwinding. Anxiety is typically their way of saying, “Are you still in control?” “Am I still safe?” 

How to Provide Reassurance 

You do not have to seem confident or pretend everything is wonderful. However, emotional containment is necessary. Try basic, reassuring statements like “Mum and Dad are figuring things out together.” “You are safe.” Allow your child to observe you sharing a tranquil moment, even if it is simply sipping tea together in silence, to alleviate their anxiety of instability. Later, tell your partner quietly, “I believe our tension is leaking into the atmosphere. What can we do differently to ensure that our child does not carry our emotions? These modest modifications teach your child that uncertainty does not imply failure, and that love may exist even when there are no solutions. 

What to Say (Without Making False Promises) 

• Yes, things are tricky right now, but we are working on it. 

• It is normal to feel unsure sometimes — even adults do. 

• But you are not responsible for fixing anything. That is our job. 

What to Model in Front of Your Child 

• A calm conversation about practical next steps 

• A moment of connection between spouses, like a shared smile or gesture 

• A verbal affirmation: “We have each other. That helps.” 

Children do not require perfection. They need to know that even when the world shakes, their parents will not break apart. 

Spiritual Insight 

In times of adversity, the greatest gift you can give your child is emotional stability wrapped in faith. A parent who quietly relies on Allah Almighty amid difficult times teaches their child that nourishment comes from a higher source rather than jobs or bank accounts. Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Inshirah (94), Verse 6: 

‘Indeed, with (every) hardship there is facilitation (from Allah Almighty).’ 

This verse does not deny the presence of adversity; rather, it promises ease alongside it. When a child sees their parent stay compassionate, composed, and spiritually grounded in the face of adversity, it serves as a lifelong blueprint: that difficulty is not the end of the narrative, and that turning to Allah Almighty provides emotional footing. It is recorded in Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2999, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘Strange are the ways of a believer for there is good in every affair of his and this is not the case with anyone else except in the case of a believer. ‘

So, in this moment, your child’s serenity will not be derived from excellent answers. It will come from seeing your quiet, dependence in Allah Almighty, and refusal to allow fear control your actions. That is the genuine security that a child remembers.