Katherine:
“I will keep this in mind. . . . You know, I was just thinking about the special times my ex-husband and I spent on the glider behind our home. Ouch, I just called it our home rather than my home. Anyway, it was on this gilder that he and I were most likely to express our love for one another and were most caring about one another. So, what about with my kids. I think we are most loving with one another at our kitchen table. We used to hop on the glider together but not now. Just the kitchen table. . . Maybe I should find time to be with them at this table so that we can talk about our relationship. As you suggested, this should not be a place when we engage in planning; rather, the kitchen table can be a place where we share memories of the past—perhaps with the aid of the many pictures on our smart phones. We can also begin to share some of our feelings for one another. Will have to do this slowly. My kids are hesitant to be “touchy feely” with me, except when they are having a very disappointing day at school or their heart is broken over someone they with whom they want to spend time. And it is beginning to be a matter of “puppy love” or “infatuation” . . . whatever they call it these days. Is it “Cuffing” or “Simping.” [Both Katherine and Sonya chuckle.]”
Sonya:
“I think this is enough for today. I hope our exploration of love and “cuffing” has been of some help.”
Katherine:
“This has been of great help to me. And I have some ideas about how to work with the priorities I set regarding work and family.”
Sonya:
“We can work on this priority setting more if you would like during future sessions. However, right now, I have a homework assignment for you. It is actually a sleep-time assignment. I would like you to record some of your dreams. In doing so, I will be asking you to do something that might seem a bit strange. I am asking you to make a request of yourself before falling asleep one or two nights. The request you make should do something like this: ‘my dear, caring self, I would like you to provide me with guidance tonight regarding my family and my work.’ You don’t have to say anything more than this. And you certainly can use your own words that would be familiar to that self that resides within you.”
Katherine was a bit uncertain about what this request would really do. She asked herself: “who or what is there inside me that would hear and respond to this request?” She left Sonya’s office with this question lingering in her head and heart.
Session Six
Katherine once again entered Sonya’s office with her diary in hand. In this case, the diary contained notes on several dreams she had after the last session. Almost immediately, Katherine asked Sonya if she could share notes that she took on several dreams she had during the week since her last session. Sonya immediately said yes, but first asked Katherine if the dream request did any good.
