My Inner Child
This started out as a humorous post. I was going to make fun of my school pictures, which isn’t hard to do, but then I had a change of heart.
You’ll notice that my pictures seem a little “worse for wear” – a metaphor for my life? I was scrapbooking long before it became popular. Maybe I started when I was seven or eight. I don’t remember. I’d glue and tape my pictures into books, only to tire of them, chisel them out and Elmers glue them into a new book. Now that I think about it, something about this activity seems significant…?
“The past is never where you think you left it.” – Katherine Anne Porter
Most of us have heard the term, “Inner Child,” as it relates to mental health therapy. What exactly is an inner child and why is it important that we become acquainted with this little person inside of us? There are different names for the inner child; The Divine Child, The Child Within, The True Self, The Wonder Child, etc.– all good names. The inner child is our childlike aspect, it is collectively all that we learned and experienced and emotionally processed as children, before puberty. As adults, our inner child keeps a low profile, spending time where we store our sub-concious mental, emotional, and physical memories. Our inner child is always with us, though, make no mistake, and comes to our emotional forefront when life gets challenging, when there’s stress, pain or fear.
When our emotional responses feel triggered, over the top, inappropriate, highly charged, magical and, or reflect something other than the adult we believe ourselves to be – then it’s likely that our inner child is making their presence known. During those early years of life we process emotional information with a child’s understanding of the world. We are innocent, uninhibited, teachable, vulnerable, impressionable, loving, and positive, etc. It would be wonderful if we could maintain all of these beautiful parts of our true self, but unfortunately, with age comes more opportunity for negative influences, and it becomes harder over time to stay vulnerable.
“There isn’t anyone you couldn’t love once you’ve heard their story.” Mary Lou Kownacki
Some theorists have gone as far as to label the inner child; the abandoned self, the playful self, the neglected self, the fearful self, the unbounded self, the discounted self, etc. Other than the, “playful self” none of them sound too great. I just took a quiz on line to see what kind of inner child I had, and based on the five questions, one being, “What’s your favorite Disney movie?” it told me I had an angry
inner child. I don’t think labeling your inner child or reducing that part of yourself down to a type seems very helpful or healthy, much less accurate.
I think most of us know our inner child and need no introduction. We can be perfectly healthy, high functioning adults, but when we return to our family home, spend time with our parents, or get together with the family over the holidays, we turn into our inner child and it becomes noticeable to our spouses, children and friends. For example, if you grew up walking on egg shells around your dad and learned to play the role of soother, you might find your inner child suddenly appears for Thanksgiving with the family. Gone is the high functioning adult you have grown to depend on, and in his or her place is an anxious child looking for love, acceptance and approval.
My inner child believed that love could conquer anything, that hard work, being strong, independent and selfless, were ways to win approval and more importantly, self-approval. This was the recipe for happiness. That’s the messaging I picked up as a child. So, I protected myself with these sub-conscious beliefs, as if they were a suit of armor. I thought if I lived by these principles and beliefs that eventually I’d win the approval of my father, and others, and be loved. Surely, those are all worthwhile things… what’s the worst that could happen?
The worst that could happen would be to find yourself in the same situation as an adult – looking for approval and love only to find out that Love does NOT conquer all, that hard work, strength, independence and being selfless can backfire, and can actually repel, intimidate and anger certain people with the opposite issues. Subscribing to that set of beliefs, only to have them overturned can cause major heartbreak. This is one of many loss issues that I’m currently dealing with.
John Bradshaw wrote a book called, “Reclaiming and Championing your Inner Child.” Basically the title says it all. If you find yourself relating to and identifying with anything I wrote in this post you might consider looking into Bradshaw’s book or finding out more about inner child work. Just having the awareness of your inner child is a great thing. The fact that we have this wonderful little kid inside of us is all the more reason to be kind to ourselves, to love ourselves, and honor that part of us that is divine.
“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” – Aristotle
You are darling!!! I’ve been thinking of hauling out the school pictures and doing one of these but mine wouldn’t be as informed and informative as yours. I love your eyes. You can tell by your school photos and the photo you have of yourself now that your inner child is definitely still in there. xoxoxox
xoxoxoox Thanks, Maggie. This was sort of a scary vulnerable post to write. Luckily I have great people in my life that provide a soft place for me to land.
Hugs to you my love!
Lisa
Lisa, it appears you and I are in the same kind of melancholy mood today. The pictures of you are so precious and beautiful. My inner child is shy and I am learning to treat her with love and calm her when she needs it. Thank you for sharing this — when you write like this, it’s so wonderful and authentic. “Honor that part of us that is divine….” yes, that’s it. xo.
I’m listening to Billie Holiday — somehow it’s just so fitting. :).
I’m so glad that I have such loving wise friends to share this with. xoxo It was a little tender to write but knowing that I have your heart, Brig, to make sense of it, makes it much easier to put it out there. I wish I lived closer – then we could have a major melancholy music fest, maybe just drive around together. Wouldn’t that be great?
Yes indeed, we need to honor that divine part of ourselves. I think we see it in each other but sometimes we forget to apply it to our selves.
Thanks for the beautiful loving comment, Brigitte! xoxo
This was SUCH a good post! So cute you were. I see you were a fan of barrettes and side swept bangs. Chic.
I’m constantly at battle with my inner child. I like to be sensitive sometimes (even overly sensitive), I like to be tender occasionally, and being overly positive. But then my adult self comes in and puts on a brave face and convinces myself that nothing can hurt me, nothing affects me anymore because I won’t let it. That nothing is shocking or surprising.
I think it’s better to let your inner child shine rather than trying to put on a front. It’s good to be vulnerable. It makes me sad for kids who have to grow up too quickly.
Is that kind of what you’re talking about? Or not really?
Exactly. The problem is, when we act strong and block the bad stuff, we also block the good stuff, the love and tender vulnerable feelings. It’s hard to let our defenses down. You’re the most beautiful, Lily, when you’re soft and tender – probably that goes for all of us. Even your humor is a thin veil that barely covers the warm and wonderful person you are. Your laughter always makes me happy – that’s pretty powerful.
It’s hard to be tender all the time, though, especially when we anticipate getting hurt.
Love you, my Lil! xoxox
Thanks momma that’s the kindest and just what I needed to hear! 😀 Love you too!
A thoughtful piece deserves a thoughtful comment. I see a bright child with an honest gaze. Hard work, strength, independence, selflessness are virtues (I suspect you’ve taught these virtues to your own children). To be loved for your virtues as well as your vices is a gift. I think it’s a gift that comes with maturity. You will be loved in this way, I am sure. I think the loss you’ve suffered… I’ll just say anger and feelings of betrayal seem like appropriate responses – as well as grief. This is a wound that will shape you, as life shapes all of us, but you have the unique capacity to understand the process and the spiritual strength to come out from the abyss healthy, and with your inner child intact. Much love, V
Oh Vickie, thank you for your wonderfully wise comment. Are you sure you didn’t go into the wrong profession? How is it that you’re great at everything you put your mind to? I’m so glad you’re my friend. This was not easy to write. I think what you said about being loved for your virtues and vices was very important. Growing up in dysfunction and needing to present a “perfect” front for emotional protection makes exposing vices, out of the question. So there’s always this piece of yourself that feels unlovable, not good enough, etc. The shame piece. I think you’re right, that with maturity we become whole, less splintered, we start to put the good and bad together and accept and love our whole person. That’s when mature love will find us.
“You will be loved in this way, I am sure.” These are the comments, Vickie, that feel like a healing balm for my pain wracked soul. Thank you my sweet friend. Your assurances lift my spirit. xoxox
I give you permission to write an ENTIRE book about my vices (which are many) – but, here’s the dealio: I think your posts have been a benefit to all that see them. You have allowed, through your vulnerability, your therapeutic influence to reach all your readers. I’m grateful, and if you’re looking for approval you have 100% of mine. xox, V
xoxo! Thank you, love.
This is so perfect for me today. I had just called a friend to ask her if she ever felt “not grown up yet.” I do at times, and I am almost 54. Yes, thank you.
I love it when you comment!! We seem to be on the same page quite a bit. I think that feeling is coming from a strong inner child. When do we become fully adult and assimilate that child part of us into the whole package? My inner child is alive and well, too. I think especially when I feel anxious or stressed and my coping is nonexistent – that’s when my emotions seem magnified. I hear you and I’m with you, my sister 🙂
xoxo
Lisa
My inner child shows up when I feel fear. That means that I am not protecting her, or myself, well enough. I have had a lot of fear over the winter. I thought that I had let her out of the dirty bunker, but I now know that I must strive to take better care of us both so that we can integrate fully. Just when I think that I am *there*…LOL! I had forgotten us both. Again, thank you!!
Oh! I have to add that I LOVE the pictures! I have a picture of myself at 5 years old, right after my first incident with sexual abuse. I had finally told my mother. I look as if I know all the secrets to the world. My younger sister, who I tried to protect, looks broken.
So does mine. I become very anxious and kick into OCD gear. I think it’s a matter of sorting out the original message(s) that made us fear and reminding ourselves that we’re adults now and have a different set of tools with which to take on our fears.
The pictures always make me so sad. Sexual abuse is so debilitating and soul robbing. I’m sorry for that crap/memory that you carry around – This is an area I know a great deal about. Unfortunately. And your sister – such a terrible burden. I’m glad your blogging and open and taking back your power. Did you ever hear of a book called, “On His Shoulders”? Very good. Also I like the Jaycee Dugard book for the simple fact that she’s so brave, faces her fear down and takes her power back. She beats that dead horse, but good. 😉
Thanks for always writing such great comments.
Have a good night!
Lisa
This post was INCREDIBLE, Lisa, and not just because you were an uber-adorable child! A lot of my everyday experiences are a product of having a wee one myself now, and some of the most wonderful and lowest moments are born out of experiencing my own daughter’s childhood by her side. Sometimes random things that Cece does unlocks a memory I have of when I was a child and it is so beautiful. My inner child just celebrates when I get to learn something anew with her. Conversely, when we are having a moment (or day) of intense stress, I feel like my inner child is just screaming because she can’t be the child; she has to be the adult. Does that even make any sense?
This was just wonderful; a beautifully-crafted post.
Thanks – those pictures are a little cringy, especially my toothless hillbilly inner child! LOL!!
Once you have a child you realize that there’s no way around sending subliminal messages. We all do it, even if we try not to. We also, like you said, have our memories unlocked, for good or for bad. It’s amazing how this happens. Maybe it’s God’s way of giving us a second chance to get it right? It sounds like you have happy inner child memories and Cee will be the beneficiary of all that goodness. That makes me happy for you and your precious daughter, Em. 🙂 What you said makes total sense. When we are so closely bonded with our children it’s like we have to keep checking to make sure that the adult is still in the room! I totally get that. I think that’s why moms always say they need time with their girlfriends to decompress and find balance again – adult interaction is very important.
Thanks for your awesome comment, Emily. xoxox
Despite only knowing you online, anyone who doesn’t see you as a valuable person who has embraced the good values your inner child believed in is (to quote my inner child) (or inner drunk adult) a poopy head.
Nice new layout, mighty big pinterest button!
LOLOL!! I love both your inner child, Gaupolino, and your inner drunk adult, and I’ll go along with calling that person a poopy head, because that’s what they are. Hey, Guapo, I think our inner children would be total friends, right?
I’m so bad with computer/wordpress stuff – yes, it’s a big pinterest button!! Thanks for noticing. Sheesh. 😉
As a third party, I would love to see the trouble our inner children would get into!
As the parent of my inner child (and therefore liable for damages and bail), I have to say that our inner children getting together is a terrible idea.
Mwahaha
haha! Hey, I was just picturing them making some awesome snow angels – would we allow them to go naked? Hell yeah!!! 😀
My inner child likes peace and solitude, is not very good at being vulnerable and is likely to lose it if she’s rushed, pushed or harried :). She also still likes to talk about what she will do when she grows up 😉
I like your inner child she would get along great with mine. My inner child also likes peace and solitude. I think feeling vulnerable is a slight trigger for most of us – it is for me, too, along with feeling powerless.
Haha! Don’t worry about growing up, that won’t happen for a long time. 😉
Very thought provoking post…I have to wonder though about the young children who’s inner child was marred through trajedy of sorts does it ever regain that innocence..I love your pictures, you are so darn cute and I would have been envous of you because I had very short hair and looked like a boy..I always wondered about that, was the only girl too 😉
Thanks, Lynne. I don’t think tragedy/trauma, whether it happens to a child or an adult is easy to process. I think it’s possible to regain our sense of self and turn the volume down on the fear responses but it takes work and a good support system. As far as regaining or restoring that child-like innocence – no, I think that’s next to impossible. You’re right about that – it’s very sad. the best you could do would be to turn it into a strength and then go on to use it to help other children, etc. Look at that Jaycee Dugard. She can never repair her wound completely, but she can write a book and take her power back and stare that fear down right in the face. I hope the rest of her life is peaceful and uneventful and healing.
My pictures are a little sad to me – probably because I look at that girl smiling and I know that there is an anxious, neglected kid in there. Thanks for always writing such thoughtful comments, Lynn. I’d love to see your short hair. Your mom was probably like, “I’m on a roll here – just give them all the same cut.” That’s understandable. But the message that you received, maybe, was a little more confusing…? I had all sisters so long hair was always gonna win out.
Great post! I like that Katherine Porter quote and your school pictures are great. You have a beautiful smile!
Aww… thanks, Sandy. When I look at that little girl I see someone anxious but trying to keep it under wraps. How did any of us survive our childhoods…? Those memories are such a mixed bag.
“The worst that could happen would be to find yourself in the same situation as an adult – looking for approval and love only to find out that Love does NOT conquer all, that hard work, strength, independence and being selfless can backfire, and can actually repel, intimidate and anger certain people with the opposite issues.”
Truth.
Your posts are really thought-provoking and sincere it just makes you spill the beans and break your privacy thingy for once. 🙂 I still consider myself as a kid, like 80% of the time?, but that one paragraph holds so much truth, finding out the world is not a safe place anymore as you once believed, that you just have to force yourself and wear that adult mask as a defense. The inner kid in me wants to jump out every chance it gets and I have some problems holding it back sometimes, haha! Maybe because it was repressed at a very long extent when I was little? The time you could be sure your kid was growing up too fast was when she’s having lunch conversations with her teacher back in first-grade instead of playing with the kids outside (it was her idea, too! She must have been a very lonely person, come to think of it…)
What I really want to say is I believe our inner child is what makes us capable of happiness because it rather chooses to see the good than the bad. And no one should be afraid of their inner child. Or call it “the fearful self” (brr).
P.S. You look just like Lily except the hair, it’s amazing!
That was me too!! I would rather hang out with my teacher or clean the classroom than be out on the playground. Isn’t that an interesting memory. Princess Diana was the same way. Very often she would go down to the kitchen and hang out with the staff. I think it’s sad and shows a need for connection. My kindergarten teacher asked my parents if she could take me to Florida on vacation – how weird is that? It makes me think she felt sorry for me. 😦
I think I’d like to give my inner child some major weaponry, a whole arsenal of defense tactics! haha! That way I don’t have to keep an eye on her and I can feel confident that she can handle all emotionally charged issues. LOL! (I’m just making this stuff up, right here!) Yeah, I hate the idea of labeling an inner child. That seems so wrong! If you’re like me, your inner child is completely balanced with fear, anger, anxiety, low self-esteem, etc. Haha! basically she’s a nut case. 😉 Just kidding.
Lily and I do have a certain similarity – it’s sort of great to see yourself in your children (although I don’t know how she feels about that!)
What’s your opinion on “killing” the inner child. Someone gave me this uhhh I guess it was technically a book written by some pick-up artist because he was trying to become one. I figured why not read it. A big theme in it was about killing your inner child. In this book it was about killing your inner little boy to be more of an alpha male, but I can see it being valuable in other ways like being confident overall and being able to move on from things in the past you could not that were out of your control.
And as I say I can understand it, I know I could never kill off my inner child nor would I ever really want to talk to anyone who has. But more importantly, what’s your take on it?
Tim, you always have an interesting angle. The goal is to meld the two parts together, not KILL one off! haha! I think you’d end up a little like Dexter if you did that. We need that sweet vulnerable side to be fully human, I think. Emotional safety is great, but at what price? I’d rather arm my inner child with high tech weaponry than kill her off.
Dear Gripping
What a wonderfully touching and wonderfully wise post.
I can’t help feeling that share some of the feeling of your inner child and remain to this day always puzzled by the reactions of others to someone who simply tries to do their best.
Yours ever
The Perfumed Dandy
Thank you so much, Dandy. Your comment means a lot to me. It’s very sad, not to mention confusing when you’re trying to be your best and it trips other people up – their responses can be very hurtful. I suppose that’s when it becomes their issue – not ours. Do I smell low self-esteem? Or is that Fancy Nights? haha!
Gripping 😉
You are adorable. Love the post.
haha! Thanks, Millie. What better way to discuss inner child work than to actually see one. 🙂
Yep! You are a brilliant writer. Have a great Saturday.
That’s kind. Thank you. 🙂
Lisa, you should check out Susan Anderson’s work as well: http://www.outerchild.net/ Amazing stuff! Powerful post, and that little girl is so adorable. Want to just give her a big hug, and tell her: Be yourself; it’s enough! xo
She knows you’d give her lots of love and hugs and that’s why she feels safe with you. (Okay, talking in third person is freaky! haha!) I’ll check out her site. Thanks for that!!
Have a good night!
xoxo
Lisa
Et vous, mon amie! xo
I love those pictures Lisa! This is great. I’m going to be visualizing myself now as a child while interacting with people. When you mentioned magical as perhaps being a response from someone’s inner child, I thought about me. I’m totally magical – to a fault – I’m just about out of this world! Thanks again Lisa for this! I read this twice.
I would totally describe you as magical! It’s funny but when I wrote that I thought of you- I seriously did. 🙂 I’m sure when you’re having new experiences everything gets filtered through the magic lens. Haha! This is why it would be fun to hang out with you.
Have a great weekend!
Lisa
Hmmm… I wonder if you thought of me because I’m actually ‘living’ my inner child, haha!
I originally had written a really long comment response but decided against it — with your posts I have to guard against the temptation to seek some of your great feedback on my issues. I had just accused a friend of reacting antagonistically with her inner child and had painted the scenario. I’m over it now, and have decided how I should deal with it. Sometimes distance gives you a better perspective.
I hope you enjoy your weekend too Lisa!
Your inner child is safe with me, lady. You don’t ever have to guard against the temptation to seek feed back, etc. I love your comments and general take on things. I enjoy the time we spend together 🙂
I agree – time and distance is always helpful with gaining a better, healthier perspective. When I look back at some of the stupid decisions I made impulsively, I cringe knowing I could have shown restraint and had a more thoughtful outcome.
Lisa
Oh Lisa, what a timely post. I recently had a rather unpleasant phone conversation with my sister. She’s got a real chip on her shoulder from childhood. I think it stems from the whole middle child (me) and younger child (her) scenario. I’ll be spending Easter in your neck of the woods with my dad and sister and NOT looking forward to it. Yikes, hopefully she’ll leave her inner child behind….haha.
Cute photos….we share yet another common element….that space between our front teeth…lol. Thank you for having the guts to put yourself out there 🙂
Oh, Ingrid. I know exactly what you’re talking about. It’s funny but my relationships with both my sisters was pretty good during 20’s and 30’s but started to fall apart in our 40’s. It’s like my family imploded. So many unspoken pains and wounds- my sisters always treated me like crap, no matter how hard I tried. Chip on the old shoulder – I know exactly what you’re talking about. i wouldn’t be looking forward to that either. Just go with your teflon suit on. That should help. 🙂
Hmmm. what is it about 40? That seems to be when the snippy comments, etc. started. I’ve tried, I’ve gone out of my way, I’ve chosen my words carefully, all to no avail. The teflon suit is packed….thanks 🙂
Great stuff as usual, Lisa. I learn such a lot from your perspectives. Thanks for putting it out there for us in such a readable way. I love it.
Thanks, Yaz. I wasn’t sure how this post would unfold. It’s a little tender for me but worth putting out there, I think… Thanks for such a kind comment. 🙂
You were a cute and already goodlooking child, Lisa! Mocking old pictures is easy, but really looking at your younger self seems to be way harder. I always end up thinking ‘you didn’t know what was about to happen, did you?’ Sometimes, I wish I could give my younger self a hug, to tell her she’ll be alright in the end. Sometimes I just want to say ‘jeeze, grow up now’. Great post!
Thanks, Astrid. It was strange putting those little faces up there – childhood is such a vulnerable and anxious time in our lives. I agree, it’s like you want to hug that kid and say, don’t worry, it will all work out. 🙂
Sometimes the ‘insecurities’ of your inner child come to the surface when you least want them to as an adult …even as a ‘senior’ adult….Likely always will I would suppose…Diane
It’s true. I think we must carry that stuff around with to the end. At least when we sense it, if we know what it is, it gives us a little handle on it.
I read where Lily called you momma–that is so tender — my youngest calls me that when he is vulnerable and seeking comfort
You write beautifully and with sensitivity — our inner children are still vulnerable aren’t they and come out at the most unlikely of times
aww…it is tender. When I hear it from mine or others I know there is sweet goodness there. 🙂
Thanks, Lou Ann – it wasn’t easy to put this in a post. I was telling Lily in a conversation we had earlier today, that if you write from your heart there’s more of a chance to connect with people. That’s good enough for me.
I treasure your comments. xoxo
I agree with you — writing from your heart is the best way to communicate–something I am sure none of us find easy–but you make it look so
Lisa,
I loved this post. I can’t say it is my favorite because I love them all but it’s pretty darn near!!
I am sure you know by now after reading my last year of posts, I think that I have won the battle and retrieved the younger version of me I left in my pain back in the day and I write about my triump and then WHAM, I hear a song, smell a scent or something sends me back to the day and the pain and the whimsical call of yesterday and I write about that… and looking back my blog looks a little bi-polar at the very least! Smile.
But this so resonated with me!
I DO see a book arising from ya!
Diane, you’re so kind. It’s hard to take care of the inner child when you’ve only recently discovered adult tools. If only I knew then what I know now. Do you ever think about doubling the knowledge we have now? I think we keep trying to find balance and peace and grow spiritually until the end. We think we’re wise now, and we are, but imagine how infantile our knowledge really still is. Haha! I think we keep progressing eternally.
So many reminders of who we were for good and for bad… I know exactly what you’re saying.
A book? Maybe? 🙂
What a wonderful, insightful article.
I grew up in a wonderful family and married into a completely dysfunctional one. Though it’s been 7 years, my inner child still cannot handle being in situations where reason and understanding do not prevail.
At least you have some inner wisdom to fall back on and you can know for a fact, that your reasoning and understanding is healthy… Thank heaven for that small piece of comfort! Haha! You must get terribly frustrated. Ugh. Dysfunction is so ugly at times. Your inner child is scratching her head, like what the eff did you get us into? 🙂
Oh Lisa!! What a sweet little girl you were. I see those innocent, earnest eyes peeking out! And I bet you were very well behaved too! I’m not surprised at all that your Kindergarten teacher wanted to take you to Florida. (Your parents were wise to say no. She might never have brought you back!) I also see a pattern that in every picture but one you are wearing a dress that has buttons or a pattern in the middle!
I think so many of us get the idea when we’re little girls that if we’re good, and win everybody’s approval and have no needs of our own and give everything our “all” that things will surely turn out well. They have to! Then they don’t and you feel like such a sucker! (I did anyway) and suddenly you see things for how they really are and how they really were. That’s the hardest blow of all. You have to retrain yourself after that, like a stroke victim does. You have to piece together what was real and what was imagined about what kind of a wife, or mother or daughter you were and are. But you’re already way ahead of the game, Lisa, because you so self-aware and your so well-educated about the human mind. But most of all because you’re you, Lisa! And I predict great happiness for you! I really do!! 😀
Linda, this is exactly right. It’s a loss issue when you think about it. I clung to those ideals, believing that they were good and right, giving it my all and making plenty of sacrifices along the way for everyone else’s well being and happiness. It does feel so crappy to find out that all your efforts were for naught. I guess I’m in that place where I’m trying to figure out what was real. It’s sad. Mia Farrow’s book is titled, “What falls away.” I always think of those words – I feel like so much of my life has fallen away. And so quickly.
You are my wise friend and read me so accurately, you have a keen emotional radar, Linda. I think we have this in common. Maybe because we both love James Allen? So many similarities… Thanks for seeing my inner child, understanding her heart and loving me. 🙂
Ah! Your welcome Lisa. I’m so glad to have you as my friend! 😀 ❤
So insightful, and I definitely related! I will have to check out that book.
Thank you! I’m glad if there was something of value in this post. Sometimes I worry that I’m stirring the pot too much. The book is great. I definitely recommend it. There are others, too. John Bradshaw is known for covering topics on Shame, addiction, dysfunctional family systems, and inner child work.
I cannot imagine what quiz you took that told you your inner child was angry. Thoughtful, thought-provoking, sensitive, yes. Angry? I don’t buy it.
Out of curiosity, I found an inner child quiz on-line and took it myself. It told me, among other things, that I have silly moments and most likely am quite the immature dork at times. My friends may call me responsible but they usually get a wakeup call. It went on to say that my inner child was pretty well grounded.
Sounds to me like the inner child did something really bad to be grounded. Poor inner child.
My inner child thanks you, CaL. That’s very kind. It was a multiple choice test – only five questions. I choose Cinderella as my favorite Disney movie over Peter Pan or Lady and the Tramp. I also said that as a child I liked to organize a game of tag- the other options were definitely not me. Anyway, they came up with angry? I think I was more anxious than anything, and yes, I was sensitive.
I think your inner child is a smarty pants aka intelligent, a little sassy, and very kind, through and through. I’m sure my inner child and yours would be friends – they’d likely be the two at the party standing in the corner, grumbling and wishing for it to end quickly.
Maybe if it said your inner child was “grounded” it meant that you don’t get “shocked” easily? 😉
What a lovely post. I love the notion of the inner child. As for school pix, at least you treasured yours enough to scrapbook them. I use to scratch my face out as I thought my photos were so awful. I still hate my photos (a lot), but scratching my face out seems violent toward myself and I’m glad I no longer do that ;).
Thank you for those kind words. I also like the idea of an inner child. (Mostly so that I can blame my questionable behavior on her! LOL!) I think scratching your face out just shows how critical we are of ourselves, even at that early age. It is sort of violent, isn’t it? I imagine that as we get older we don’t compare as much and learn to accept ourselves. What choice do we have? Then again, if I see a camera I run and hide. That’s the equivalent of the face scratch off! Soo, I guess I haven’t accepted my self – at least my aging appearance. It’s a harsh reality. I think I just went round in one big circle. haha!
Happy Easter!
LOL @ The two missing front teeth! This reminds me when I lost both of mine, the worst time of my life that way, even my own mother kept laughing at me haha!
I know!! I was going to say that’s my hillbilly inner child! LOL! Judging from my smile it looks like I could care less. I’m sure I worked hard to pull them out, just so I could have them gone at the same time. It’s so disturbing. hahaha!
I hope you made some cash from the tooth fairy! I remember when I figured out the tooth fairy was fake, my mum used to put my old teeth in a drawer (I’m sure she’s a hoarder) so I used to steal them back and pretend it’d just come out to get more money. To my parents I must have had about 50 milk teeth as a child.
hahaha! Only you would be so devious. I kept my kid’s teeth, too. Now that I think about it, why? It’s actually pretty gross.
I don’t even know what happened to my old teeth, I assume they just got thrown in a bin though I’m sure should I look through some drawers that haven’t been opened for a long time there’s bound to be a stray molar still knocking about. Perhaps a challenge for this weekend?
What a sweetie! I, too, kept my kids’ teeth. Why did we do that?
In fact, I don’t have them all any more because we were burgled and one of the things they took was a little set of drawers that looked like a jewellery box. The lovely Mr S went out searching and sure enough, they’d dumped them when they realised there were baby teeth in there and not diamonds! To me of course they were more precious than that and I was heartbroken!
All the best to you 🙂
Aww… that’s too sad. They are precious, aren’t they? I suppose we all keep our children’s baby teeth but why? That’s a very good question! 🙂
The burglars will know better the next time they take a little set of drawers from a jewelry box. That’s where I kept mine, as well!
I was so glad the lovely Mr S rescued some of them and very glad that the burglars didn’t get my precious family locket! 🙂