Chapter 6 - NOAH THOUGHT BARKING MADE ADULTS HAPPYThe child therapist discovered it during play.
She gave Noah animal figures.
He made the dog sit.
Then said:
“Bad dog bark.”
The therapist asked:
“What happens if he barks?”
Noah answered:
“Grandma happy.”
That destroyed me.
I sat outside afterward and cried so hard I could barely breathe.
The therapist reminded me:
“He is not doomed.”
I hated that word.
She corrected herself.
“What I mean is: repeated safe experiences matter.”
We worked.
Meals at a table.
Food on plates.
No jokes about “wolfing down dinner.”
No calling messy eating “piggy.”
I never realized how many casual animal comparisons adults make around children.
We stopped for a while.
Noah chose a stuffed dog at the store.
I hesitated.
Then let him.
His choice.
He named it Rocket.
At night, Rocket slept on the pillow.
Not floor.
No symbolism required.
May you like
Just a toy.
Good.
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