Conversations

How do I teach my shrinking violet to take up space? Why does my space need to be so limited?

MOM, you’re too loud. You’re TV’s too loud. You chew too loud. Mom, your embarrassing me. Mom, where’s your candy? Can we go get candy? 

CHILD, I can’t hear you, speak up. You must learn to speak up. Is that laundry done? Practice. Practice again. Have you read the chapter I told you to read? You need to concentrate.

MOM, I had weird dreams.

CHILD, me too.

MOM, I don’t want to go outside to play. I want to sleep.

CHILD, get up, get dressed, go outside. And then unpack the dishes. 

MOM, I don’t have any friends.

CHILD, yes you do. You just don’t know how to have a conversation outside of text messages. Cultivate those friendships. Learn to talk. Go clean your room.

MOM, I don’t know how to be happy.

CHILD, that grateful/thankful list you made is what you focus on to be happy. The good things that make you happy. Have you told your therapist how you feel?

MOM, why do you sing all the time? Can you stop singing?

CHILD, that’s my happy place. Please don’t try to take it away from me. Moms can sing. We need to. Take up space, baby. Try to take up more space. That’s what I’m doing.