Child: On the surface what do you see?
Adult: A ‘normal’ child
Child: How old am I chronologically?
Adult: 11 years old
Child: I don’t feel like an 11yr old
Adult: How old do you feel?
Child: I feel like a toddler
Adult: Don’t be ridiculous
Child: What do I do that concerns you?
Adult: Steal, lie, control, swear, oppose, defy, hide away, hoard food, kick off, the list goes on
Child: I wish I could stop doing these things
Adult: I wish you could too. Actually, I think you can stop
Child: How?
Adult: Just choose to behave, think about the consequences of your actions, consider the feelings of others
Child: Ok, I must be a bad kid if I can’t do what other children my age can
Adult: I didn’t say you were bad, it’s just your behaviour that needs to change
Child: You don’t need to say it, I already know I am
Adult: You just need to try harder
Child: How?
Adult: Start listening to adults and have more respect. Follow the rules
Child: I’m scared of adults
Adult: Don’t be silly
Child: I can’t help how I feel
Adult: Just pause before to do something and put your ‘thinking cap’ on
Child: With my Brain? I haven’t got much of a thinking cap!
Adult: what’s wrong with your brain?
Child: Read the books, do the training, join the NATP and then you’ll understand that MY brain is in a wheelchair! It needs rewiring. I’m stuck in staying alive mode, I can’t think before I do something.
I NEED you to be my ‘thinking cap’, I NEED you to help rewire my brain.
Adult: That could take years!
Child: Yes, Many
Adult: Where do I begin?
Child: THERAPEUTIC PARENTING!
Sarah Dillon ©
