😤 WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
Someone cuts you in line. What do you do?
Calmly tell them you were in line, ignore it if it isn't worth addressing, or ask an adult for help if needed. Not: yell, push, insult.
Someone doesn't answer you. Does that automatically mean they're ignoring you?
No. They could be distracted, not hear you, be busy, or not know what to say.
Name something Mom or Dad does that makes you feel cared about.
Personal answer — anything genuine counts.
Can you love someone AND be angry with them?
Yes.
If you could tell Mom and Dad three things about what happens inside your brain when you're upset, what you need from them, or what you wish they understood about you, what would you tell them?
"Listen to me." • "Don't interrupt." • "Give me space." • "Don't immediately punish me." • "Help me calm down." • "Don't compare me to Wesley." • "Let me explain."
Your parents tell you "no" and you think it's unfair. What's your first move?
Pause/regulate first, then calmly ask why or explain your perspective.
You walk past kids and they start laughing. Give two possible explanations.
They could be laughing about you OR something completely unrelated.
What's something you wish your parents understood about you?
Personal answer. You're looking for identification of an emotional need.
Can your parents make a decision you hate AND still be trying to help you?
Yes
You come home after a horrible day. What's the worst thing Mom or Dad could do?
Lecture me, immediately punish me, tell me I'm overreacting, interrupt me, ask a million questions, yell, compare me to Wesley.
Bonus: What's the BEST thing they could do?
Wesley gets something you wanted. What can you do instead of starting a fight?
Identify jealousy/disappointment, take a break, ask about it calmly, or focus on what you can control.
Someone says something mean to you one time. Is that automatically bullying?
No. It may be rude/unkind behavior or conflict. Bullying generally involves repeated/aggressive behavior and a power imbalance.
Finish: "When everyone keeps saying 'Michael, stop,' I feel ___ because ___."
Any appropriate emotion + explanation: frustrated, unheard, embarrassed, angry, singled out, etc.
Can school be annoying AND have good parts?
Yes. Ask him to name one of each.
You're really upset. Which do you usually want first?
A. Advice
B. Someone to listen
C. Space
D. Help fixing it
E. Depends
Follow-up:
"How could Mom or Dad know which one you need?"
Dad starts lecturing and you feel yourself getting angry. What could you say?
"Can I have a minute to calm down and then talk?"
or
"Can you listen to my side before we solve it?"
Riley says, "You're terrible at this." What information would you need before deciding it's bullying?
Has it happened repeatedly? Is he intentionally trying to hurt/intimidate you? Is there a power imbalance? What's the context?
You think Wesley is getting treated better. What's a helpful way to tell your parents?
"I feel left out/unimportant when Wesley gets ___ and I don't. Can you explain why it's different?"
Can you be jealous of Wesley AND love him?
Yes. Feelings don't cancel each other out.
Question: When you keep hearing “Michael, stop,” what do you think your parents don't understand about what's happening for you?
When you keep hearing “Michael, stop,” what do you think your parents don't understand about what's happening for you?
Answer: Personal.
Listen for: impulsivity, feeling singled out, not realizing he's doing something, difficulty stopping, wanting attention, feeling blamed
You're 9/10 angry and your usual coping skill isn't working. Name three other things you could try.
Walk away, cold water, breathing, movement, quiet space, music, talk to trusted adult, grounding, squeeze something, count backwards.
Your first thought is: "Everyone hates me." What's your detective question?
"What evidence do I actually have that everyone hates me?"
Bonus: "Is there another explanation?"
our parents get an instruction manual for Michael. What's rule #1?
Personal answer. Listen for what he needs emotionally.
Name three situations where someone could have two feelings at once.
Example answers:
Excited + nervous about school.
Angry + loving toward a parent.
Jealous + happy for a sibling.
Your parents see you yelling. What's something they might not see underneath the yelling?
Possible answers: Hurt, embarrassment, anxiety, frustration, jealousy, feeling misunderstood, feeling left out.