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How do we deal with Oogies that are out of control?
Getting our Oogies under control isn’t about becoming a different person, a new person, or even a better person. We don't need to silence our Oogies. After all, the whole point is that our Oogies want desperately to be heard. The key is listening to our Oogie while keeping a firm grip on its leash. Oogies can be a great way to work with children who are struggling with their feelings, who are fighting or sulking or being mean with one another. The next time you're with a child who's struggling, try this: Have your child draw a picture of him/herself. Then have your child draw a picture of his/her Oogie next to it. Is it larger than the child? Smaller than the child? Have the child write everything their Oogie is saying — about his/her sibling, about you, about the situation and how unfair it is. Remind your child that anything his/her Oogie is saying is okay. Your child may find that just giving voice to his/her Oogie is helpful in and of itself. You may notice your child starts to calm down and even laugh about it. You may find yourself having compassion for your child, realizing what kind of beast of an Oogie your child is trying to manage! This can be one of the most wonderful results of working with Oogies: the compassion it creates for us as parents. Of course, this same technique can work wonderfully for us as adults with our own Oogies. Try it! And try talking to your children about your own Oogie, especially when you've let it take control. Check back soon for printable resources! |
