STORY 96
MY LIFE
(contributed by Nathaniel Watts)Therapeutic Characteristics
Problems Addressed
■ Death of a parent
■ Grief
■ Sadness
■ Anger
■ Uncertain, conflicting emotions
■ Feeling responsibleResources Developed
■ Managing grief
■ Saying good-bye
■ Celebrating positive memories
■ Accepting reality (not responsible)
■ Learning not to blame yourselfOutcomes Offered
This story provides a good description of the problem (the death of a parent) and some of the processes of grief. It
also presents resources for coping with grief but does not have a clear, positive outcome. It is years later before the
character is assured that it was not his fault. The therapist may want to help the child build a clearer outcome with
questions like the following: What else might have helped to ease the boy’s pain of losing his father? How could
that have happened earlier? What helps the character maintain his well-being now? Helping the child explore ap-
propriate outcomes is discussed in Chapter 15, p. 248.
When I was three years old we went to live in a mining town because Dad worked there. I started
school at pre-primary and it was so good because everything was so close.
Dad took us to the mess occasionally, which is a food diner. I also had lots of friends there, such
as Blake, Caden, Willow, and E.C.T. There was a pool near our house. We knew the owner so he
gave us discounts.
When I was five years old I rode my bike with my friends and we did a derby and I crashed into
my friend and lost my toenail. He thought it was his fault so he tried to avoid us. Later that year we
went to the Royal Show by plane and I had the best time.
When I was seven I was playing on the trampoline and the police came and told my mum heart-
breaking news. My sister was listening through the door. When she heard she ran straight to her
friend’s place.
Mum called us inside. She was crying. We said, “What’s wrong Mum?”
She said, “Dad’s dead.” We straight away knew that it was our dad, not hers. We burst into tears.
My uncle walked into the room. “What’s wrong? Mum tell you off ?” he asked with a giggle.
220 Healing Stories, Teaching Stories