Sublime

Imagine growing up and never or rarely hearing your parents or others say things like: “That was an awesome job.” “You’re an amazing kid.” “I think you’re special.” “You’re very smart.” “I enjoy spending time with you.” “I am so proud of you.” “You’re fun to be with.” “I love you.” That is the issue facing an inner child who is hungry for praise.

it is the Worry Monster that craves predictability. The more you give in to his demands for predictability, the more your daughter and your entire family will end up living by those restrictive demands. We don’t want to play by his rules.

Let’s Make a Deal

“Too many parents make life hard for their children by trying, too zealously, to make it easy for them.”

Sometimes, it can be obvious: the parent- figure who comments on a child’s weight or obsesses about the child looking ‘presentable’ at all times;

Good children become the keepers of too many secrets and the appalling communicators of unpopular but important things. They say lovely words, they are experts in satisfying the expectations of their audiences, but their real thoughts and feelings are buried, then seep out as psychosomatic symptoms, twitches, sudden outbursts, sulphurous bitterness

Inside the rule-bound, precise, formal person, a playful, silly self is hoping for release. Inside the important person admired for their status is a child who wants to be liked for themselves.