Chaos

Over the last 4 weeks, I have tried to engage in “dialogue” with 5-year-old-Dan on a regular basis. I am operating under the premise that when I get anxious, angry, afraid or feel the urge to over-eat that 5YOD is trying to speak. He is trying to get “my” attention.

If I’m paying attention, this happens several dozen times a day.

I turn and look down to see 5YOD standing to my left, holding his blanket ( I was a “blankie-thumb-sucker” just like Linus until I was much older than 5) and I see him looking up at me. It’s clear that he has needs. Needs he is looking to me to meet. But he doesn’t speak.

My impulse has been three-fold. For the first two weeks (less often now) I would be annoyed and ashamed. Very much like I feel my father, brothers and grandfather felt about 5YOD. It was a long day filled with tears when I realized I was doing to myself, all over again, what had been done before. I am still trying to regain 5YOD’s trust.

My second impulse has been to sweep him up in my arms and hold him tightly. He’s not all-together comfortable with this, but it does meet a need and he seems to appreciate it. But it’s not ultimately what he’s after. This gesture is…”temporary”.

The third impulse is to simply “see” him. To adopt an open, inquisitive and…participatory posture with him. I now address him when he shows up, “Hey, little Buddy!” and I get on my knees to address him face to face. I want him to have my full attention, not in an effort to satiate him, quiet him, protect him or appease him, but to SEE him.

*as I wrote that last paragraph, I had to pause for a brief conversation with him*

Like any 5 year old, he sometimes just likes having me in that position, ready. It’s enough for him. Other times, he is trying to get me to engage with him, to see something, to participate.

About 10 days ago, while paused in this tableau of kneeling before a silent 5YOD, with his blankie firmly gripped in his right hand, and the thumb of his left hand firmly in his mouth, he extended the forefinger of his left hand right in front of his nose, a gesture indicating that I should I look up. As I did, his eyes moved upward along with mine as if to confirm that I was in fact looking.

In a flat plane, about three feet above our heads was a landscape of utter chaos: turbulent, violent and unpredictable. It did not reach us, as if it was behind glass, but I could feel the impact and rumble of the frayed and ragged parts collided, swirled togther and tore apart again.

This was 5YOD’s world. Just three feet away, constant turmoil. Chaos. And below it. Just him.

2 thoughts on “Chaos

  1. Thanks again Dan. Cordelia and I discussed the little child in each of us that needs to be recognized (sometimes more than other times) on the train today for a few minutes.

    I was reminded of a therapist I was seeing some years ago here in Berlin who began telling me I needed to talk to my inner child. I had no idea what he meant and I stopped going to the sessions.

    I´m now beginning to learn that often times our adult nature can be taken over by our inner child, so much so that it´s a real challenge to know just how to lovingly deal with the inner child, especially one who was hurt or whose needs were not properly met.

    I´m glad that although it was chaos you saw hovering above, at least you saw something. I´ve seen nothing really, but maybe I simply need to look more closely?

    Peace brother.

    Matthew

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