Overheard in Rochester Area - Having response - ability
September 23, 2006
I overheard this in the waiting room at a substance abuse treatment clinic
First woman: “I talked to him about taking responsibility and telling his father he is sorry and asking how he can make it up to him.”
Second woman:” What did he say?”
First woman: “He said he was scared.”
Second woman: “Scare'd of what?
First woman “Scared his father wouldn’t love him any more I guess.”
Second woman: “Is he right, that his father wouldn’t love him any more?”
First woman: “Ya never know. His father can be a real idiot sometimes.”
Second woman: “Isn’t that what we all want, to be understood and loved?”
First woman: “I guess and when we don’t get it we shut down and terrible things start to happen for us.”
Second woman: “Like what?”
First woman: “Without love and understanding we hate life and become destructive each in our own way. My son will take up drinking and drugging just like my dad and will leave a whole bunch of wreakage in his wake like me.”
Second woman: “You’re not wreakage.”
First woman: “Not according to him.”
Second woman: “He’s a drunk!”
First woman: “And I married one and now have a son who is one.”
Second woman: “No hope?”
First woman: “Take responsibility and know who you are.”
Second woman: “Response – ability. Sounds like you are able to make some better responses.”
First woman: “Do you think??”
Second woman: “What were you trying to teach your son?”
First woman: “Yeah, you’ve got a point.”
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