[SherryA]

I was reading something the other day that I thought was kind of funny and also kind of fun. This site suggested naming your "inner brat". It suggested calling her after the worst brat you know.

So I did. I named her after my niece Crystal. The point of the thing was to tame her, to get her to behave and stop sabotaging what the adult you wants. For instance when I was trying to get my house clean the kid inside wanted to play instead. So I was telling her to behave.

But it was a weird experience after naming her. I was cleaning the kitchen and "Crystal" didn't really want to work just then. She started asking why SHE had to do all the work and my "other" kids got to play and sleep. After awhile I started to agree with her a bit, it really wasn't fair was it? If she were truly one of my "kids" I wouldn't single her out and make her work so hard while they got to play would I? So I wound up calling the kids upstairs and making them work too because "Crystal" says she's being mistreated and that it isn't fair.

The kids were mystified about what I meant, but they went along with the game and it became kind of fun. At the same time I was trying to discipline Crystal and make her not be so full of resentment and anger at having to be the "oldest" one and therefore expected to do more.

But the funny thing was when Crystal was done with her work, SHE got to go play and the other kids had to work a little harder because they hadn't worked for as long. My husband was going to the store and I told him I wanted to go too! So we (he and I and "Crystal") got to go, but the other kids had to finish their work first.

This sounds funny, I'm sure. But it was amazing how that child inside of us can sometimes feel neglected and abused. Like she never gets ANYTHING she wants. Sometimes it is good to reward her, and in ways that don't have anything to do with the bad foods that we tend to try and offer her as a compensation for all the rest of the bad treatment she gets.

We are hardest on ourselves. As women we often have to be. We are the ones who have to keep the family running smoothly. We have to be the adult (sometimes even when married our husbands tend to act more childish than we would prefer). But that little scared, sometimes bratty kid inside needs a little love and attention too. Otherwise she feels ignored and gets rebellious and bratty and starts sabotaging our efforts to do the adult and responsible thing in our lives.

So what do you call your inner "brat?"

[hockeyfan7]

Gee, that's an interesting concept. I don't know that I have one. I'm not always the responsible one. We don't have kids, and if we don't feel like cleaning the house, we don't. If we want to eat macadamia nuts for dinner, we do. If I want to wear the same pair of socks at the gym 2 days in a row, I do.

My husband and I are pretty loose about things -- we try not to let too much worry us.

[SherryA]

Well what about when you want to eat all sorts of junk food that isn't on your diet and your inner brat starts whining because she can't have pizza or chocolate or whatever else is not on plan? Isn't there some disciplining going on then?

[nasus40]

Sherry I will have to think about what brat Is the worst. I think that is a good one!!

[supernurse_mommie]

I know i definetly resent having to be grown up and responsible! LOL.. i fight continually to not just blow it all off, run away and not come back.. LOL.. but thats just me!
Dont know a really bratty child that is a girl.. so she dont have a name.. but darn her, she needs to stay quiet and "mind!".. id hate to have to give her a time out!!

Mommie

[hockeyfan7]

Sherry, I'm allergic to almost every junk food out there and I'm also allergic to pizza, so it's not that bad any more. It's been about 6 months since I was diagnosed.

I have to read the labels and call the food manufacturer and I can't just pick up something and put it in my mouth. It makes you a whole lot more accountable.

I also can't assume that because it was safe last week that it's still safe this week -- I have to check every time. Manufacturers change their processes constantly.

The only things I can be sure about are meats, veggies, fruit, and milk if they are in their natural state. I even have to check cheeses. And I have to check every processed meat.

It's hard to binge when you have to take the time to check out the food ingredients -- I can never mindlessly eat.