Chapter 16 - FOOD WITHOUT CONDITIONS
Tirzah began hiding crackers.
Under her pillow.
Inside a toy chest.
In her school backpack.
Dr. Chen said:
“Do not punish the hiding.”
We created a predictable snack drawer.
Fruit.
Crackers.
Yogurt.
Granola.
Not unlimited sweets.
No food anxiety turned into absence of structure.
Predictability.
For months Tirzah checked the drawer before bed.
Then less.
At seven, she stopped hiding food.
At eight, she asked:
“Was I poor when Grandma gave scraps?”
“No.”
“Then why scraps?”
“Because she wanted you to think food depended on doing what she said.”
“That’s mean.”
“Yes.”
“Did money make her?”
“No.”
Important.
“Money and company rules made her afraid of losing control. She still chose what she did.”
“Did you choose trips?”
“Yes.”
“Was that bad?”
“Not automatically.”
“Did you know?”
“No.”
She looked relieved for me.
That hurt.
I said:
“But when I learned, I changed.”
She nodded.
That was the lesson.
May you like
Not perfect parents.
Responsive ones.
