Although Christopher had friends, he was lonely during summer vacation: 'It made me realize what I was missing'

Summer vacation can be particularly lonely for children who have grown up in homes with substance abuse.

"I stood face to face with all the things I didn't have," says Kristoffer Lundholm, who grew up in a family with a lot of alcohol. (Photo: © Andreas Erecius Christensen - DR and private photo) 59 minutes ago

Sunscreen, which is rubbed on the arm. Ice, which is eaten before it melts. The sun, which slowly sinks down the neck of a cold soda.

These are the ingredients for a good summer for most.

When Kristoffer Lundholm from Tornby was a child, it was something completely different that filled his days.

In the north Jutland home, he grew up in a family with alcohol abuse.

>

> I stood face to face with all the things that didn't happen to me.

> Kristoffer Lundholm, pedagogue and grew up in a home with abuse

Therefore, he felt lonely – even though he had a large group of friends, when football teams were formed or trips to the beach were organized.

– I was alone with my feelings and became aware of what I lacked, and what I didn't have, when the others went on vacation. That was something I would never do.

----------------------------------------

Many others can do things that one cannot

----------------------------------------

It is not only Kristoffer Lundholm who experiences the problem.

At the organization TUBA, which advises young people who have grown up in homes with abuse, it is a well-known phenomenon that summer vacation can strengthen loneliness.

Therefore, they also receive more inquiries from the young people they advise during the summer, says Pernille Schmeltz, who is a therapist at TUBA in Hjørring.

– There are so many others who can do things that one cannot, or one can feel different, because summer vacation can easily turn into drinking.

Kristoffer Lundholm experienced as a child that summer vacation plans, which he was promised, often went awry. (Photo: © (private photo))

In addition, loneliness can be strengthened by the fact that one's normal network of teachers, educators, and friends is not available, as they usually are.

– Problems are always there, but during summer vacation they are intensified, because the young people do not have anyone to turn to, says Pernille Schmeltz.

-------------------

Want to make a difference

-------------------

Kristoffer Lundholm is now 29 years old, but still remembers back to a childhood where it was with mixed feelings when the clock struck after the last hour before summer.

He was happy to spend more time with his friends, but when they went on vacation, and the vacation plans he himself was promised went awry, he was left with a feeling of loneliness and disappointment.

– I stood face to face with all the things I didn't have. One becomes very aware of the things one doesn't have.

Therefore, he asks today for extra guards during the summer in the SFO, where he works as a pedagogue.

He wants to make a difference for the children who do not have plans during the summer.

– It is a big motivating factor that I myself have experienced summers that have been unpredictable with disappointments and bad experiences, says he.

– I think it is important that all children have a good summer vacation, and that those who come from less resource-rich families have some experiences they can look back on.

Facebook ( https://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=undefined )

Warning: This article was translated by a Large Language Model, in case of doubt, you can always visit the original source.