Chapter 18 - NORA’S NEW RULES
Dr. Emily Chen, Nora’s therapist, helped us build rules.
Not family commandments.
Child safety rules.
One:
No adult puts Nora somewhere locked as punishment.
Two:
No adult tells Nora she causes Mom’s illness.
Three:
No adult says money spent on Nora means less love or treatment for Mom.
Four:
If a caregiver says Dad or Mom approved something frightening, Nora can ask directly.
Five:
Nora can ask for necessities without being called greedy.
Six:
Necessities do not mean every toy.
Nora objected.
“Why toys no?”
Because therapy can still contain comedy.
Then one afternoon she asked for glitter sneakers.
$110.
I said no.
She stared.
“Shoes need.”
“You have school shoes.”
“These sparkle.”
“Not need.”
She looked suspicious.
“Can I ask Mom?”
“Yes.”
Audrey said no too.
Nora groaned.
This was important.
We did not replace Theresa’s cruelty with unlimited yes.
Boundaries survived.
What disappeared was shame.
Later Nora asked:
“Are forty-five shoes need?”
“At the time, yes.”
“Glitter?”
“No.”
“Mean.”
“Probably.”
May you like
She survived.
Without bars.
