Yesterday I had the epiphany that I’m still much like a child: given to indulging my impulses at the expense of long-term well-being, still in-the-dark about a lot of basic household processes, and not shaping my own development as a human being responsibly.

The trick might be self-parenting my inner child.

Adopting Myself

Now that I’m the proud parent of my inner child, I’ve got to think about what I want for him. Naturally, I want him to develop into an upstanding, happy, and confident human being. This is what I know about him so far:

• He’s about 14, likes spaceships and cats.
• He doesn’t really like sports because he’s not good at them.
• He has some anxiety about being “good” at things.
• He’s good at observing how things connect together.
• He’s shy, but likes writing and using his imagination.

As an adult, there are certain things that I need to provide for us:

• Financial security to avoid unpleasant shocks and discomfort.
• Quality time, growing and learning together.
• A model for what adulthood is, so he learns this through osmosis as he grows older. Adulthood isn’t all responsibility without reward.
• A program of general fitness, health, and mental stimulation.
• An environment in which self-discovery can safely occur.
• Physical security.
• Stability.
• Emotional support.
• Community connectivity.

To be able to do all that, I need to:

• Focus on my business prospects
• Manage my time, so I can spend quality time with my inner child
• Use myself as an example for how to be a happy adult
• Demonstrate the fundamentals of living and playing responsibly
• Demonstrate cause and effect of our choices
• Be dilligent in tracking the critical signs of a healthy household: cash flow, health & fitness, having good things to eat, stability of household services, and insurance against future crisis.
• Be pro-active in anticipating cause and effect

When I woke up this morning at a relatively early 730AM, I put myself into self-parenting mode and immediately got my ass out of bed, showered, and put on some actual work clothes. I even combed my hair; my stylist would be thrilled, as she says that one should ALWAYS look good. In my case, that just means looking slightly less rumpled, but that’s still an improvement.

I cooked breakfast, because I knew that it’s an essential part of the day. I took out some meat for cooking lunch, thought about what vegetables would be good to have for dinner. I also knew that providing regular breakfast creates a routine, and routines are good for establishing a sense of security and home, forming a comfortable base from which one can explore. So I (we?) ate breakfast, wished each other a good day, and then I got myself downstairs to the office to work. Blogging is work too, you know! :-) Later this evening, we’ll probably draw some spaceships and do some chores, maybe shoot some hoops. I’ll make a list that describes the whole idea of “balancing the checkbook” so we both know what’s expected.

Does it Work?

This was a surprisingly fulfilling morning. I have a lot of things I need to take care of now, because I’m nowhere near having any of those items on the list in a secure place. But it’s a fascinating exercise…particularly of my imagination :-) We’ll see how long this lasts…I’ll be running it for at least this week.