132 The Explosive Childfind out soon enough. Then it’s back to Plan B to figure
out why and come up with a solution that is more realis-
tic, doable, or mutually acceptable than the first one.)
And when you think the time is right, move on to an-
other problem on the list.
But if your answer is “Not well at all,” don’t despair. In
the last chapter, the numerous factors that could cause
Plan B to go astray were discussed, including:
- You may be overrelying on Emergency Plan B. Remem-
ber, most explosions are highly predictable and
should therefore be handled using Proactive Plan B.
With Emergency Plan B, there’s added heat and
therefore lower odds. - You may be using Plan B as a last resort. Plan B isn’t an
act of desperation, and it’s not something you turn to
only when your child is on the verge of exploding. - You may be putting solutions on the table instead of con-
cerns. Don’t forget—the problem won’t get solved
unless two highly specific concerns are on the table. - You may be entering Plan B discussions with preor-
dained solutions. It’s fine to have some ideas, but if
you already know what the solution is before the dis-
cussion begins, you’re using Plan A, not Plan B.