Learning Curves 141today—but you never really invited him to solve the prob-
lem collaboratively.”
“What would a good solution have been?” the mother
asked.
“ That’s for you and Chuck to decide,” the therapist
said. “Something realistic, doable, and mutually satisfac-
tor y. Chuck’s reaction tells us your solution wasn’t mutu-
ally satisfactor y.”
“You think he can do this?” said the mother.
“I’ve seen him do it before,” said the therapist. “But let’s
get Chuck in here and see,” the therapist said.
Chuck came into the office. “I understand you want caps
for your cap gun,” the therapist said.
“Yeah, but she won’t get them for me till June,” he
groused.
“I think your mom might be willing to work out a solu-
tion to that problem,” the therapist said.
“That was the solution!” Chuck complained.
“No, I think your mom might really be willing to work it
out,” the therapist said. “Chuck, you want to buy caps today
and your mom doesn’t have time to buy them for you today.
Can you think of a way to work that out?”
Chuck pondered the possibilities ver y briefly but then be-
came a little agitated. “I can’t think of a way to work it out!”
he said, squirming on the couch.
“If you need my help figuring it out, I’m happy to assist,”
the therapist said. “Can you think of any ideas?”