1 00:00:03,960 --> 00:00:06,520 Speaker 1: I'm Laurie Gottlieb. I'm the author of Maybe You Should 2 00:00:06,559 --> 00:00:09,280 Speaker 1: Talk to Someone, and I write the Dear Therapist advice 3 00:00:09,320 --> 00:00:10,440 Speaker 1: column for the Atlantic. 4 00:00:10,600 --> 00:00:13,800 Speaker 2: And I'm Guy Wench. I'm the author of Emotional First Aid, 5 00:00:14,120 --> 00:00:16,319 Speaker 2: and I write the Dear Guy advice column for Ted. 6 00:00:16,680 --> 00:00:18,480 Speaker 2: And this is Dear Therapists. 7 00:00:18,920 --> 00:00:21,360 Speaker 1: Each week we invite you into a real session where 8 00:00:21,360 --> 00:00:24,120 Speaker 1: we help people confront their biggest problems and then give 9 00:00:24,160 --> 00:00:26,960 Speaker 1: them actionable advice and hear about the changes they've made 10 00:00:27,000 --> 00:00:27,720 Speaker 1: in their lives. 11 00:00:28,040 --> 00:00:32,920 Speaker 2: So sit back and welcome to today's session. This week, 12 00:00:33,200 --> 00:00:36,080 Speaker 2: a woman who loves her husband worries about his anger 13 00:00:36,120 --> 00:00:39,080 Speaker 2: toward their young children and considers whether she should leave 14 00:00:39,159 --> 00:00:40,120 Speaker 2: him to protect them. 15 00:00:40,400 --> 00:00:43,440 Speaker 3: It's not healthy for our daughter. You need to get 16 00:00:43,479 --> 00:00:45,519 Speaker 3: therapy or we're going to leave so that I can 17 00:00:45,560 --> 00:00:47,720 Speaker 3: protect her first. 18 00:00:47,800 --> 00:00:51,600 Speaker 2: A quick note Deo Therapists is for informational purposes only, 19 00:00:51,880 --> 00:00:55,120 Speaker 2: does not constitute medical or psychological advice, and is not 20 00:00:55,160 --> 00:00:58,680 Speaker 2: a substitute for professional health care advice, diagnosis, or treatment. 21 00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:03,040 Speaker 2: The advice of your physician, mental health professional, or other 22 00:01:03,160 --> 00:01:06,399 Speaker 2: qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding 23 00:01:06,400 --> 00:01:09,920 Speaker 2: a medical or psychological condition. By submitting a letter, you 24 00:01:09,959 --> 00:01:12,200 Speaker 2: are agreeing to let ihelp media use it in pot 25 00:01:12,319 --> 00:01:14,600 Speaker 2: or in full, and we may edit it for length 26 00:01:14,640 --> 00:01:17,120 Speaker 2: and clarity. In the sessions you'll hear, all names have 27 00:01:17,200 --> 00:01:19,520 Speaker 2: been changed for the privacy of our guests. 28 00:01:21,760 --> 00:01:24,360 Speaker 3: Hey Laurie, Hey Guy. 29 00:01:24,480 --> 00:01:26,360 Speaker 2: So what do we have in our mailbooks today? 30 00:01:26,600 --> 00:01:28,399 Speaker 1: So today we have a letter from a woman who's 31 00:01:28,480 --> 00:01:33,000 Speaker 1: having some difficulty in her relationship, and it goes like this, 32 00:01:33,959 --> 00:01:37,319 Speaker 1: Dear Laurie and Guy, I'm in a really difficult position 33 00:01:37,440 --> 00:01:40,160 Speaker 1: in a relationship that started off five years ago as 34 00:01:40,160 --> 00:01:44,120 Speaker 1: a spontaneous rulw'in in romance and has only mildly dampened 35 00:01:44,160 --> 00:01:47,080 Speaker 1: with time and two young children, a three year old 36 00:01:47,120 --> 00:01:50,000 Speaker 1: daughter and a five month old son. I am still 37 00:01:50,040 --> 00:01:52,760 Speaker 1: in love with my boyfriend Jake and enjoy spending time 38 00:01:52,800 --> 00:01:56,240 Speaker 1: together and as a family. The problem is that during 39 00:01:56,240 --> 00:01:59,720 Speaker 1: my second pregnancy and postpartum, his parenting style towards our 40 00:01:59,720 --> 00:02:02,320 Speaker 1: old has changed, and he is quick to lash out 41 00:02:02,320 --> 00:02:05,920 Speaker 1: at her verbally and emotionally. He is intolerant of her age, 42 00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:08,840 Speaker 1: typical boundary testing and tantrums, and I can see the 43 00:02:08,880 --> 00:02:12,079 Speaker 1: harm done by the way he handles this. Playing referee 44 00:02:12,080 --> 00:02:15,200 Speaker 1: and mediator between what feels like two toddlers is exhausting, 45 00:02:15,560 --> 00:02:18,560 Speaker 1: especially while caring for an infant. It's like I don't 46 00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:21,440 Speaker 1: have a partner to help share the load. His nasty 47 00:02:21,480 --> 00:02:23,919 Speaker 1: demeanor towards our daughter has made me think more than 48 00:02:23,960 --> 00:02:27,080 Speaker 1: once that I should leave him, But paradoxically, I feel 49 00:02:27,120 --> 00:02:29,200 Speaker 1: this will end up with him having more one on 50 00:02:29,200 --> 00:02:31,600 Speaker 1: one time due to a custody agreement where I will 51 00:02:31,600 --> 00:02:35,320 Speaker 1: be unable to do damage control and intervene. There's no abuse, 52 00:02:35,440 --> 00:02:38,080 Speaker 1: and I recognize the value of having time with their dad, 53 00:02:38,320 --> 00:02:42,280 Speaker 1: so sole custody doesn't seem realistic or healthiest. I've approached 54 00:02:42,320 --> 00:02:46,120 Speaker 1: Jake about couples counseling, him, getting anger management counseling, and 55 00:02:46,160 --> 00:02:49,480 Speaker 1: even let him know I was considering leaving. These resulted 56 00:02:49,520 --> 00:02:51,959 Speaker 1: in tears on his end and promises to try to 57 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:55,640 Speaker 1: get better, but nothing is changed. I feel paralyzed, and 58 00:02:55,680 --> 00:02:58,240 Speaker 1: I'm not sure what arrangement would be best for the kids. 59 00:02:58,480 --> 00:03:00,880 Speaker 1: I also wonder if breaking up would be healthiest for me, 60 00:03:01,240 --> 00:03:03,359 Speaker 1: because if I'm worrying about the kids the entire time 61 00:03:03,360 --> 00:03:06,280 Speaker 1: they're with him, maybe it wouldn't be I would greatly 62 00:03:06,320 --> 00:03:09,960 Speaker 1: appreciate any help figuring this out. Sincerely, Becca. 63 00:03:11,440 --> 00:03:14,560 Speaker 2: Well, it's interesting because Becka says that there's no abuse, 64 00:03:14,680 --> 00:03:19,360 Speaker 2: but lashing out at children verbally is a form of 65 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:22,280 Speaker 2: emotional abuse, so certainly can be when it's harsh and 66 00:03:22,320 --> 00:03:25,440 Speaker 2: it goes on over time. So I'm really glad that 67 00:03:25,600 --> 00:03:29,040 Speaker 2: Jake is actually joining us today because it sounds like 68 00:03:29,120 --> 00:03:31,680 Speaker 2: something we really need to talk to both parents about 69 00:03:32,040 --> 00:03:34,120 Speaker 2: to get an understanding of what's going on and why 70 00:03:34,160 --> 00:03:35,360 Speaker 2: and what can change there. 71 00:03:36,000 --> 00:03:39,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, exactly, emotional violence is abuse, and it has long 72 00:03:39,520 --> 00:03:42,840 Speaker 1: lasting effects and it can be very traumatic, especially when 73 00:03:42,840 --> 00:03:46,360 Speaker 1: it's ongoing. And when it's ongoing, we call that complex 74 00:03:46,400 --> 00:03:49,720 Speaker 1: trauma because it's not one event, it's multiple events happening 75 00:03:50,080 --> 00:03:54,400 Speaker 1: all the time. And it sounds like Jake realizes that 76 00:03:55,160 --> 00:03:58,600 Speaker 1: something needs to change, but he's having trouble doing the changing. 77 00:03:58,600 --> 00:04:00,400 Speaker 1: And that's why I think it's important that we're both 78 00:04:00,400 --> 00:04:00,880 Speaker 1: of them on. 79 00:04:01,400 --> 00:04:05,000 Speaker 2: Every day. We see in our offices people who've had 80 00:04:05,120 --> 00:04:08,040 Speaker 2: an experience in childhood in which their parents would yell 81 00:04:08,080 --> 00:04:10,960 Speaker 2: at them or speak to them very very harshly, and 82 00:04:11,000 --> 00:04:13,120 Speaker 2: they're very damaged by that. So we really have to 83 00:04:13,120 --> 00:04:16,640 Speaker 2: be very clear that how parents speak to their children 84 00:04:16,800 --> 00:04:19,760 Speaker 2: does have a big impact. It doesn't require physical abuse 85 00:04:19,839 --> 00:04:22,039 Speaker 2: to leave a scar. Let's talk to them. 86 00:04:22,240 --> 00:04:23,000 Speaker 4: Yeah, let's do that. 87 00:04:25,680 --> 00:04:28,800 Speaker 1: You're listening to Dear Therapists for my Heart Radio. We'll 88 00:04:28,800 --> 00:04:30,159 Speaker 1: be back after a short break. 89 00:04:38,080 --> 00:04:41,359 Speaker 2: I'm Lori Gottlieb and I'm Guy Wench and this is 90 00:04:41,440 --> 00:04:42,360 Speaker 2: Dear Therapists. 91 00:04:44,760 --> 00:04:45,960 Speaker 1: So, Hi Becka, Hi Jake. 92 00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:49,160 Speaker 2: Thank you for coming on the show. 93 00:04:49,279 --> 00:04:50,600 Speaker 4: Thank you for having us. 94 00:04:51,040 --> 00:04:53,560 Speaker 1: So we're glad both of you are here because this 95 00:04:53,680 --> 00:04:56,240 Speaker 1: is an experience that is going on between the two 96 00:04:56,320 --> 00:04:58,200 Speaker 1: of you, and I think before we get to the 97 00:04:58,200 --> 00:05:01,080 Speaker 1: problem that you wrote in about beck with your daughter, 98 00:05:01,880 --> 00:05:05,240 Speaker 1: we wanted to understand a little bit more about earlier 99 00:05:05,320 --> 00:05:08,560 Speaker 1: in your relationship and how you decided to have kids. 100 00:05:08,600 --> 00:05:10,800 Speaker 1: It sounds like you said it was a whirlwind. Everything 101 00:05:10,839 --> 00:05:14,480 Speaker 1: happened very quickly. And since we heard from you already, Becca, Jake, 102 00:05:14,520 --> 00:05:16,240 Speaker 1: why don't you tell us a little bit about your 103 00:05:16,279 --> 00:05:19,560 Speaker 1: experience of early in the relationship and then the first 104 00:05:19,880 --> 00:05:22,600 Speaker 1: pregnancy and first experience of being a parent. 105 00:05:23,720 --> 00:05:27,159 Speaker 4: So none of it was planned. Actually, Becca called me 106 00:05:27,240 --> 00:05:30,600 Speaker 4: and sprung the news on me that she found out 107 00:05:30,920 --> 00:05:33,520 Speaker 4: she was pregnant. So that was a very big shock, 108 00:05:33,720 --> 00:05:35,320 Speaker 4: came completely out of left field. 109 00:05:36,240 --> 00:05:38,400 Speaker 1: When you say it was a shock. Was it a 110 00:05:38,680 --> 00:05:41,640 Speaker 1: good shock, a scary shock? What kind of shock? 111 00:05:42,440 --> 00:05:46,400 Speaker 4: Scary? For sure? I didn't really think I was going 112 00:05:46,480 --> 00:05:48,800 Speaker 4: to possibly even have her have kids. It was something 113 00:05:48,839 --> 00:05:53,320 Speaker 4: that wasn't really thought about that much. I was all 114 00:05:53,360 --> 00:06:00,040 Speaker 4: about having fun cars, motorcycles, friends. Never really gave I 115 00:06:01,520 --> 00:06:04,479 Speaker 4: guess fatherhood a serious thought. 116 00:06:06,160 --> 00:06:07,760 Speaker 1: How old were you at the time. 117 00:06:08,240 --> 00:06:10,200 Speaker 3: I was twenty five when we met, so you would 118 00:06:10,200 --> 00:06:10,920 Speaker 3: have been twenty nine. 119 00:06:11,200 --> 00:06:13,120 Speaker 4: Twenty nine, twenty nine. 120 00:06:13,080 --> 00:06:15,760 Speaker 2: Jake, How did you come to terms then? Given this 121 00:06:15,839 --> 00:06:17,800 Speaker 2: with such a shock, you weren't even thinking you might 122 00:06:17,880 --> 00:06:20,240 Speaker 2: have kids. Now you find out you have one on 123 00:06:20,360 --> 00:06:23,160 Speaker 2: the way. Tell us how you adapted to that. What 124 00:06:23,240 --> 00:06:24,599 Speaker 2: was the process for you? 125 00:06:26,160 --> 00:06:29,279 Speaker 4: I don't really know what the process was. Just kind 126 00:06:29,279 --> 00:06:31,880 Speaker 4: of went with the flow. It was definitely scary the 127 00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:36,240 Speaker 4: entire time, you know, going from possibly never having kids 128 00:06:36,200 --> 00:06:39,200 Speaker 4: still all of a sudden, within the next nine months 129 00:06:39,279 --> 00:06:41,320 Speaker 4: or so, I'm going to have a little, tiny, little baby. 130 00:06:42,400 --> 00:06:44,480 Speaker 1: How long had you known each other at that point 131 00:06:45,400 --> 00:06:49,840 Speaker 1: you or nine months? So, given how new the relationship was, 132 00:06:49,920 --> 00:06:52,200 Speaker 1: had the two of you talked about having a future 133 00:06:52,240 --> 00:06:55,200 Speaker 1: together or was that not even on the table at 134 00:06:55,200 --> 00:06:56,600 Speaker 1: that point in the relationship. 135 00:06:56,920 --> 00:06:59,320 Speaker 4: Yeah, we definitely had the conversation of having a future together. 136 00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:04,000 Speaker 4: Becca's lease where she was living was coming to an end, 137 00:07:04,080 --> 00:07:07,160 Speaker 4: and so was mine, who were starting to discuss getting 138 00:07:07,160 --> 00:07:10,360 Speaker 4: an apartment together. I don't recall if that was before 139 00:07:10,680 --> 00:07:15,520 Speaker 4: after finding out about Isabella, but I did know going 140 00:07:15,600 --> 00:07:19,200 Speaker 4: into her line of work that we would potentially have 141 00:07:19,280 --> 00:07:22,680 Speaker 4: to be relocated at some point, and I was on 142 00:07:22,760 --> 00:07:24,040 Speaker 4: board from the beginning. 143 00:07:24,880 --> 00:07:28,480 Speaker 1: Jake, it sounds like you really didn't think about a 144 00:07:28,520 --> 00:07:31,520 Speaker 1: future with kids. Becca. Did you think about a future 145 00:07:31,560 --> 00:07:34,360 Speaker 1: with kids, and if so, did Jake know that you 146 00:07:34,400 --> 00:07:36,400 Speaker 1: thought about a future with kids. 147 00:07:37,960 --> 00:07:40,840 Speaker 3: Yeah. I actually initially had the thought that I would 148 00:07:40,920 --> 00:07:44,280 Speaker 3: have like four or five kids someday. When Jake and 149 00:07:44,320 --> 00:07:46,200 Speaker 3: I met, it was, as I kind of mentioned, kind 150 00:07:46,200 --> 00:07:50,520 Speaker 3: of like a whirlwind because we spent like pretty much 151 00:07:50,560 --> 00:07:53,160 Speaker 3: every day together for the first six months when on 152 00:07:53,200 --> 00:07:56,600 Speaker 3: all these adventures had a ton of fun. The idea 153 00:07:56,840 --> 00:08:00,280 Speaker 3: of having kids eventually like kind of came up in 154 00:08:00,320 --> 00:08:03,440 Speaker 3: a lighthearted way. Like we were looking over text messages 155 00:08:03,520 --> 00:08:06,720 Speaker 3: the other day and one was like, Uh, he'd message 156 00:08:06,760 --> 00:08:08,600 Speaker 3: me like, Oh, if we do have kids, they would 157 00:08:08,640 --> 00:08:11,760 Speaker 3: be Gerber babies. They'd be so cute. But we never 158 00:08:11,800 --> 00:08:15,160 Speaker 3: had like a serious conversation about it. And I think, 159 00:08:15,280 --> 00:08:19,040 Speaker 3: like from a relationship perspective, I think the first or 160 00:08:19,080 --> 00:08:21,640 Speaker 3: the second night we met, I told him that I 161 00:08:21,680 --> 00:08:25,160 Speaker 3: was in medical school at the time, and I was like, oh, 162 00:08:25,280 --> 00:08:28,200 Speaker 3: you know, in a few months when I match, I 163 00:08:28,200 --> 00:08:30,440 Speaker 3: have no control over where I go, so I don't 164 00:08:30,440 --> 00:08:32,600 Speaker 3: know if we should get into anything. And he was like, oh, 165 00:08:32,640 --> 00:08:35,120 Speaker 3: I'll follow you wherever you go. So I think there 166 00:08:35,280 --> 00:08:37,439 Speaker 3: was like a pretty intense connection early on. 167 00:08:38,480 --> 00:08:42,400 Speaker 1: So when you texted Becca about having Gerber babies together, 168 00:08:42,640 --> 00:08:44,680 Speaker 1: was there a part of you that thought maybe you 169 00:08:44,760 --> 00:08:45,920 Speaker 1: did want kids. 170 00:08:46,320 --> 00:08:47,800 Speaker 4: I think if I was going to have them, it 171 00:08:47,800 --> 00:08:50,439 Speaker 4: would have been later on. Like I said earlier, I 172 00:08:50,520 --> 00:08:52,880 Speaker 4: was still having a lot of fun at the time. 173 00:08:52,960 --> 00:08:55,400 Speaker 4: I was living with a couple of my good friends, 174 00:08:55,559 --> 00:08:59,280 Speaker 4: working Monday through Friday and Surrey and Sunday's, having a blast, 175 00:08:59,360 --> 00:09:02,600 Speaker 4: going on guy trips here and there, and seriously thinking 176 00:09:02,600 --> 00:09:07,120 Speaker 4: about settling down with a family and children was definitely 177 00:09:07,280 --> 00:09:08,400 Speaker 4: way in the back of my mind. 178 00:09:09,040 --> 00:09:11,920 Speaker 2: Jake, So tell me about the discussion between the two 179 00:09:11,920 --> 00:09:14,280 Speaker 2: of you and you get that phone call, since you 180 00:09:14,400 --> 00:09:18,080 Speaker 2: were so blindsided by it, what was the discussion like 181 00:09:18,120 --> 00:09:19,840 Speaker 2: between the two of you about the fact that this 182 00:09:19,880 --> 00:09:23,000 Speaker 2: is happening and how you felt about it. 183 00:09:23,000 --> 00:09:27,240 Speaker 4: It was scary, for sure, getting that information. I didn't 184 00:09:27,280 --> 00:09:29,160 Speaker 4: know the first thing about kids. I didn't have any 185 00:09:29,160 --> 00:09:32,760 Speaker 4: brothers or sisters. I was an only child. The closest 186 00:09:32,760 --> 00:09:36,599 Speaker 4: thing to being around a baby was my cousin's And 187 00:09:39,120 --> 00:09:40,040 Speaker 4: there's a lot to learn. 188 00:09:40,600 --> 00:09:42,920 Speaker 2: So Becca, tell us what happened between the two of you. 189 00:09:44,080 --> 00:09:46,840 Speaker 3: It wasn't something that we thought that deeply about because 190 00:09:47,000 --> 00:09:49,520 Speaker 3: I was on birth control, so I didn't really think 191 00:09:49,520 --> 00:09:51,880 Speaker 3: it was a possibility, and I was very faithful. I 192 00:09:51,960 --> 00:09:54,520 Speaker 3: had an alarm in my phone. Was not planning on 193 00:09:55,320 --> 00:09:59,760 Speaker 3: getting pregnant. So when I started having symptoms, I was 194 00:09:59,800 --> 00:10:02,280 Speaker 3: a and I was like, okay, let me just take 195 00:10:02,320 --> 00:10:04,800 Speaker 3: a test just to put my mind at ease. And 196 00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:07,839 Speaker 3: when it was positive, I know, I started crying. I 197 00:10:07,920 --> 00:10:09,520 Speaker 3: called my best friend and I was like, I don't 198 00:10:09,520 --> 00:10:12,680 Speaker 3: really know what to do. Should I tell Jake now 199 00:10:13,120 --> 00:10:15,800 Speaker 3: or should I wait until he comes to visit next weekend. 200 00:10:16,440 --> 00:10:18,480 Speaker 3: She had said, you know, if it was me, I'd 201 00:10:18,480 --> 00:10:22,079 Speaker 3: probably want to know as soon as possible. So I 202 00:10:22,320 --> 00:10:25,040 Speaker 3: called him and he was definitely really shocked by the news. 203 00:10:25,120 --> 00:10:29,000 Speaker 3: He's normally a very talkative person, and it was pretty silent, 204 00:10:29,320 --> 00:10:33,200 Speaker 3: but he said like, Okay, I just need a little 205 00:10:33,200 --> 00:10:35,160 Speaker 3: bit of time to think about this, but whatever you 206 00:10:35,240 --> 00:10:38,360 Speaker 3: want to do, And over the next couple weeks when 207 00:10:38,400 --> 00:10:41,840 Speaker 3: we talked, it just seemed like he was very much like, Okay, 208 00:10:41,960 --> 00:10:44,160 Speaker 3: ball's in your court, Becca, whatever you want to do, 209 00:10:44,880 --> 00:10:47,959 Speaker 3: I'm behind you one hundred percent. So I thought about 210 00:10:47,960 --> 00:10:50,480 Speaker 3: it and I decided, you know, I did want to 211 00:10:50,520 --> 00:10:55,199 Speaker 3: have multiple kids, and it might not be the most 212 00:10:55,240 --> 00:10:58,439 Speaker 3: ideal circumstance, but I really felt like I had a 213 00:10:58,520 --> 00:11:02,120 Speaker 3: great connection with Jake and could see a future together. 214 00:11:02,840 --> 00:11:07,199 Speaker 3: So we talked and he was okay with us kind 215 00:11:07,200 --> 00:11:09,319 Speaker 3: of moving forward deciding to keep the baby. 216 00:11:10,800 --> 00:11:15,280 Speaker 1: Did you understand how Jake felt or was the messaging 217 00:11:15,320 --> 00:11:19,880 Speaker 1: you were getting just whatever you decide, I'm here. But 218 00:11:20,000 --> 00:11:23,880 Speaker 1: did you understand more of all of the ambivalence and 219 00:11:24,920 --> 00:11:26,880 Speaker 1: terror that he was experiencing. 220 00:11:29,040 --> 00:11:30,800 Speaker 3: I don't think so. I don't think I knew that 221 00:11:30,880 --> 00:11:33,760 Speaker 3: he was scared. I thought there might be like some 222 00:11:33,920 --> 00:11:36,360 Speaker 3: remorse over like the loss of the life that he 223 00:11:36,520 --> 00:11:39,520 Speaker 3: was getting to live. I got definitely the remorse for 224 00:11:39,679 --> 00:11:42,439 Speaker 3: that part of his life, but I didn't know that 225 00:11:42,520 --> 00:11:44,679 Speaker 3: he was scared until today, Actually. 226 00:11:45,520 --> 00:11:47,160 Speaker 1: Jake, why didn't you share that with her? 227 00:11:47,880 --> 00:11:49,480 Speaker 4: And she had a lot on her plate as it 228 00:11:49,679 --> 00:11:54,120 Speaker 4: was going through med school, and I guess it was 229 00:11:54,520 --> 00:11:59,520 Speaker 4: my burden to carry to deal with Definitely not one too. 230 00:11:59,679 --> 00:12:02,360 Speaker 4: I guess share my feelings and put my feelings out there. 231 00:12:02,440 --> 00:12:07,160 Speaker 4: Quite often I kind of bury them and just deal 232 00:12:07,200 --> 00:12:07,400 Speaker 4: with it. 233 00:12:07,640 --> 00:12:09,920 Speaker 2: Is it still something that you feel hesitant to share 234 00:12:09,960 --> 00:12:13,439 Speaker 2: when you're having challenging feelings? Do you still hesitate to 235 00:12:13,760 --> 00:12:15,280 Speaker 2: share them with Becker? Even now. 236 00:12:17,040 --> 00:12:20,640 Speaker 4: On occasion? I just I guess the word is suck 237 00:12:20,679 --> 00:12:22,240 Speaker 4: it up and deal with it would be the best 238 00:12:22,240 --> 00:12:24,680 Speaker 4: way to describe what Typically. 239 00:12:24,640 --> 00:12:26,839 Speaker 2: So it's a decision and it's a philosophy that you 240 00:12:26,960 --> 00:12:30,120 Speaker 2: have that one shouldn't share. It's better for you to 241 00:12:30,320 --> 00:12:33,160 Speaker 2: not let her know how you're feeling about things. 242 00:12:34,760 --> 00:12:37,679 Speaker 4: I mean certain things. If it's a big enough issue, 243 00:12:38,080 --> 00:12:42,280 Speaker 4: yes I would share. But if it's something that's going 244 00:12:42,360 --> 00:12:45,360 Speaker 4: to blow over, or it's it's only a small thing, 245 00:12:46,000 --> 00:12:48,319 Speaker 4: then I'll just deal with it. 246 00:12:48,720 --> 00:12:51,679 Speaker 2: So the question is whether it indeed blows over or 247 00:12:51,720 --> 00:12:55,400 Speaker 2: whether over time these feelings accumulate and then they come 248 00:12:55,440 --> 00:12:56,480 Speaker 2: out in other ways. 249 00:12:59,720 --> 00:13:03,599 Speaker 4: Yeah, there's definitely times where I blow up and it 250 00:13:03,679 --> 00:13:09,160 Speaker 4: comes out in anger. For sure. It's usually work related. 251 00:13:09,679 --> 00:13:13,839 Speaker 4: The stresses from work definitely add up. I think I 252 00:13:13,960 --> 00:13:17,640 Speaker 4: let my feelings no pretty well about work. 253 00:13:18,320 --> 00:13:20,640 Speaker 1: You let them be known because you share them with BECO, 254 00:13:20,800 --> 00:13:23,600 Speaker 1: or because you blow up and then it becomes apparent 255 00:13:23,679 --> 00:13:24,679 Speaker 1: that something's bothering you. 256 00:13:24,800 --> 00:13:26,240 Speaker 4: I'd say probably a little bit of both. 257 00:13:27,400 --> 00:13:29,559 Speaker 1: Jake, I'm curious about this idea that you have that 258 00:13:30,720 --> 00:13:33,120 Speaker 1: it's a burden to share your feelings with someone else 259 00:13:33,640 --> 00:13:36,280 Speaker 1: and that it's better if they just kind of blow over. 260 00:13:37,440 --> 00:13:39,560 Speaker 1: Was that something you learned earlier on in life. 261 00:13:40,640 --> 00:13:44,120 Speaker 4: Yeah, my family isn't. Definitely not some a family that 262 00:13:44,520 --> 00:13:49,680 Speaker 4: I guess shares their feelings all that often. Talking about 263 00:13:49,720 --> 00:13:52,280 Speaker 4: our feelings was definitely not something that ever happened. 264 00:13:53,640 --> 00:13:58,920 Speaker 2: Do you see the connection between not expressing your feelings 265 00:13:59,000 --> 00:14:00,840 Speaker 2: unless it's a big deal. Do you see the connection 266 00:14:00,920 --> 00:14:04,680 Speaker 2: between keeping all of those things in and the temper 267 00:14:04,800 --> 00:14:06,960 Speaker 2: and then blowing up and having a short fuse. 268 00:14:08,440 --> 00:14:12,280 Speaker 4: I've always had a temper. I saw therapists quite a 269 00:14:12,280 --> 00:14:16,640 Speaker 4: few years ago for my anger, and in that. 270 00:14:16,760 --> 00:14:22,080 Speaker 2: Work, was it suggested that part of the internal pressure 271 00:14:22,120 --> 00:14:26,040 Speaker 2: you might feel that promotes. The temper might be related 272 00:14:26,080 --> 00:14:28,240 Speaker 2: to the fact that you don't have this release valve 273 00:14:28,760 --> 00:14:31,160 Speaker 2: because you keep things in unless they're really big. 274 00:14:31,960 --> 00:14:34,920 Speaker 4: It's possible during therapy. The big thing that ended up 275 00:14:35,000 --> 00:14:36,920 Speaker 4: changing was me moving out. At the time, I was 276 00:14:36,920 --> 00:14:38,760 Speaker 4: still living at my parents' house, me and my dad 277 00:14:38,840 --> 00:14:41,920 Speaker 4: butt heads quite a bit, and moving out to get 278 00:14:42,120 --> 00:14:48,320 Speaker 4: out of that toxic I guess environment and being out 279 00:14:48,360 --> 00:14:51,040 Speaker 4: with my friends for the first time made a big difference, 280 00:14:51,320 --> 00:14:52,280 Speaker 4: a very big difference. 281 00:14:53,760 --> 00:14:55,640 Speaker 2: But it was that that made the difference, not that 282 00:14:55,760 --> 00:14:59,320 Speaker 2: you learned to regulate those feelings a little better. 283 00:14:59,600 --> 00:15:03,600 Speaker 1: Correct Becca, how much did you know about what Jake's 284 00:15:03,720 --> 00:15:07,440 Speaker 1: talking about right now and the philosophy of I don't 285 00:15:07,480 --> 00:15:11,760 Speaker 1: want to burn people with my feelings and the misconception 286 00:15:12,160 --> 00:15:14,800 Speaker 1: that they'll just go away if I don't talk about them. 287 00:15:15,960 --> 00:15:20,840 Speaker 3: So initially, for the first like year, probably I didn't 288 00:15:20,880 --> 00:15:25,240 Speaker 3: know about it, and he was actually like very even keeled. 289 00:15:25,680 --> 00:15:27,280 Speaker 3: It would come out a little bit when we would 290 00:15:27,280 --> 00:15:29,800 Speaker 3: go to visit his family and he would say like, 291 00:15:29,920 --> 00:15:33,840 Speaker 3: oh me, my dad, but head sometimes even nowadays, like 292 00:15:34,720 --> 00:15:37,920 Speaker 3: I'll leave like water bottles that I've drank around the house, 293 00:15:38,600 --> 00:15:41,000 Speaker 3: And I didn't know until the past couple months that 294 00:15:41,080 --> 00:15:45,000 Speaker 3: it was something that bothered him because he doesn't bring 295 00:15:45,120 --> 00:15:49,400 Speaker 3: up those small things. So it's like I kind of 296 00:15:49,440 --> 00:15:51,720 Speaker 3: wonder sometimes, like what other things do I do that 297 00:15:51,920 --> 00:15:54,800 Speaker 3: bother him that he's just not saying anything about because 298 00:15:54,840 --> 00:15:57,360 Speaker 3: in my mind, I was like, oh, nothing about me 299 00:15:57,480 --> 00:15:58,280 Speaker 3: bothers this guy. 300 00:16:00,200 --> 00:16:02,960 Speaker 1: And he's laughing. So, Jake, it sounds like she's on 301 00:16:03,080 --> 00:16:05,040 Speaker 1: the right track here that maybe there are some other 302 00:16:05,120 --> 00:16:06,200 Speaker 1: things you haven't shared with her. 303 00:16:06,680 --> 00:16:08,320 Speaker 4: It would have to come up at the moment. But 304 00:16:08,560 --> 00:16:11,600 Speaker 4: if she did something, I guess I can't think of anything, 305 00:16:11,680 --> 00:16:14,960 Speaker 4: like right off the top of my head, the water 306 00:16:15,040 --> 00:16:19,320 Speaker 4: bottles is just just a peppeeve of mine, just having 307 00:16:19,360 --> 00:16:25,440 Speaker 4: all these empty plastic water bottles the nightstand and one 308 00:16:25,520 --> 00:16:28,320 Speaker 4: day to put something in it and on her side 309 00:16:28,440 --> 00:16:31,560 Speaker 4: and there was like six empty plastic water bottles, and 310 00:16:31,600 --> 00:16:34,120 Speaker 4: why can't they just be put in the recycling? 311 00:16:34,920 --> 00:16:37,880 Speaker 1: They're just And it was that moment that made you 312 00:16:37,920 --> 00:16:39,760 Speaker 1: bring it up with her, like it had to get 313 00:16:39,800 --> 00:16:41,800 Speaker 1: to the six empty water bottles in the nightstand. 314 00:16:42,680 --> 00:16:44,640 Speaker 4: I don't really know how it was actually brought up. 315 00:16:44,960 --> 00:16:48,440 Speaker 4: It may have been somewhat recent where I cleaned up 316 00:16:48,520 --> 00:16:50,080 Speaker 4: I found a bunch of them, took them all out 317 00:16:50,120 --> 00:16:52,200 Speaker 4: and then to the recycling, came back in and there 318 00:16:52,280 --> 00:16:54,280 Speaker 4: was like three more sitting on the counter that she 319 00:16:54,400 --> 00:16:57,320 Speaker 4: had brought back. I don't know where she pulled them 320 00:16:57,360 --> 00:16:57,800 Speaker 4: out from. 321 00:16:58,560 --> 00:17:00,920 Speaker 2: The water bottles are a great exone because they're a 322 00:17:01,000 --> 00:17:04,480 Speaker 2: small thing and we're laughing about it, but it happens 323 00:17:04,520 --> 00:17:07,399 Speaker 2: a lot, and so that's when we talk about accumulating 324 00:17:07,680 --> 00:17:10,879 Speaker 2: these kinds of feelings. You can see that if you 325 00:17:10,960 --> 00:17:13,520 Speaker 2: count how many water bottles are left around, how often 326 00:17:14,200 --> 00:17:16,800 Speaker 2: it adds up to much more than just a pet peeve. 327 00:17:16,840 --> 00:17:21,320 Speaker 2: And that's why when you feel this accumulation of frustrations, 328 00:17:21,359 --> 00:17:25,440 Speaker 2: it is important to express and address it. I do 329 00:17:25,520 --> 00:17:27,800 Speaker 2: want to go to Isabella because I want to hear 330 00:17:28,480 --> 00:17:31,320 Speaker 2: Jake what that experience was like. The fear is very 331 00:17:31,400 --> 00:17:34,160 Speaker 2: very appropriate when you're having your first child, but were 332 00:17:34,160 --> 00:17:37,200 Speaker 2: you also excited? How did it feel when she was born, 333 00:17:37,320 --> 00:17:39,640 Speaker 2: when you were holding her. I'd like to hear about 334 00:17:39,640 --> 00:17:40,199 Speaker 2: your experience. 335 00:17:40,280 --> 00:17:44,879 Speaker 4: Yeah, it was exciting. As scary as it was, it 336 00:17:45,040 --> 00:17:48,280 Speaker 4: was nice. Had no idea what I was getting into, 337 00:17:48,640 --> 00:17:52,119 Speaker 4: but she was this perfect little thing. I have a 338 00:17:52,240 --> 00:17:55,080 Speaker 4: selfie that I took in the hospital holding her and 339 00:17:55,280 --> 00:17:57,920 Speaker 4: her eyes are open staring at the camera, and it 340 00:17:58,119 --> 00:18:02,320 Speaker 4: just yeah, it was a nice moment. I actually vividly 341 00:18:02,400 --> 00:18:04,840 Speaker 4: remember my dad. He was out in the waiting room 342 00:18:04,880 --> 00:18:07,240 Speaker 4: for quite a few hours once they found out that 343 00:18:07,560 --> 00:18:11,200 Speaker 4: the baby was coming, and I remember walking out Tom 344 00:18:11,280 --> 00:18:13,760 Speaker 4: telling them that she was here and just breaking down 345 00:18:13,760 --> 00:18:14,160 Speaker 4: a crying. 346 00:18:15,520 --> 00:18:19,320 Speaker 1: And so these bursts of anger toward Isabella, they weren't 347 00:18:19,400 --> 00:18:22,640 Speaker 1: happening until your son was born, or were they also 348 00:18:22,760 --> 00:18:25,640 Speaker 1: happening periodically before he was born? 349 00:18:25,720 --> 00:18:29,639 Speaker 4: Periodically? I know she's just a toddler, but when she 350 00:18:29,800 --> 00:18:35,120 Speaker 4: knows better, she's sometimes will look at you and smile, 351 00:18:35,359 --> 00:18:37,800 Speaker 4: even though you tell her no, and she will just 352 00:18:38,359 --> 00:18:41,280 Speaker 4: look at you and smile and do it anyway, and 353 00:18:41,440 --> 00:18:43,520 Speaker 4: then she just tries me nuts. 354 00:18:44,400 --> 00:18:47,680 Speaker 2: Toddler's do that because that's how they learned. They test 355 00:18:47,760 --> 00:18:51,280 Speaker 2: the limits all the time to see what's allowed and 356 00:18:51,359 --> 00:18:53,480 Speaker 2: what isn't and it requires a lot of repetition, so 357 00:18:53,600 --> 00:18:56,320 Speaker 2: those limits have to be reinforced over and over again. 358 00:18:56,320 --> 00:18:58,399 Speaker 2: And when she looks at you and smiles, she's almost 359 00:18:58,440 --> 00:19:01,359 Speaker 2: like signaling you about to test the limit here, So 360 00:19:01,720 --> 00:19:04,920 Speaker 2: let's see what you do. Can you give me an example, Jake, 361 00:19:05,000 --> 00:19:07,959 Speaker 2: when you do have an outbust with Isabella? What does 362 00:19:08,040 --> 00:19:08,440 Speaker 2: that look like? 363 00:19:08,760 --> 00:19:13,159 Speaker 4: It's yelling? I get loud, I get very frustrated and 364 00:19:13,280 --> 00:19:17,440 Speaker 4: say what Instead of just saying I need you to 365 00:19:17,480 --> 00:19:19,560 Speaker 4: clean these up? I would just say that out a 366 00:19:19,680 --> 00:19:25,680 Speaker 4: much louder yelling volume. I don't like messes, and when 367 00:19:25,720 --> 00:19:28,680 Speaker 4: there is a big mess, that frustrates me, and I 368 00:19:28,800 --> 00:19:36,560 Speaker 4: will say what the and start cleaning it up? Why 369 00:19:36,600 --> 00:19:40,359 Speaker 4: did you do that? I don't have a sensor, and 370 00:19:40,520 --> 00:19:44,119 Speaker 4: I would say probably what the f? Why did you? 371 00:19:44,840 --> 00:19:50,040 Speaker 4: Why did you do that? And just very angry manner. 372 00:19:51,200 --> 00:19:53,800 Speaker 2: And how does she react when you yell at her 373 00:19:54,119 --> 00:19:54,280 Speaker 2: like that? 374 00:19:58,040 --> 00:20:02,240 Speaker 4: Sometimes she he just gets quiet and sits there. There's 375 00:20:02,320 --> 00:20:05,960 Speaker 4: been other times where she's laughing, which gets me even 376 00:20:06,000 --> 00:20:10,360 Speaker 4: more frustrated. And then there's other times where you could 377 00:20:10,359 --> 00:20:14,159 Speaker 4: definitely tell she feels guilty or upset about it, and 378 00:20:14,200 --> 00:20:17,800 Speaker 4: then she'll start crying and I continue to be mad 379 00:20:17,840 --> 00:20:20,920 Speaker 4: in this situation. And then once the situation has been resolved, 380 00:20:21,000 --> 00:20:23,520 Speaker 4: whether it's cleaning it up or whatever the case is, 381 00:20:24,520 --> 00:20:30,840 Speaker 4: is when I get out of seeing red and take 382 00:20:30,880 --> 00:20:35,240 Speaker 4: a step back and realize she's just a toddler, and 383 00:20:35,560 --> 00:20:38,480 Speaker 4: I will hold her and give her a hug and 384 00:20:38,760 --> 00:20:43,840 Speaker 4: tell her I'm sorry, and then she'll it's okay. 385 00:20:45,160 --> 00:20:48,479 Speaker 1: You have this phrase rupture and repair, and so when 386 00:20:48,520 --> 00:20:51,520 Speaker 1: there's a rupture, whether that's in a relationship between adults 387 00:20:51,600 --> 00:20:55,359 Speaker 1: or between parents and children, it's not just that a 388 00:20:55,440 --> 00:20:57,800 Speaker 1: rupture happened, But then how does it get repaired? And 389 00:20:57,920 --> 00:21:00,960 Speaker 1: it sounds like you attempt to repair it with Isabella, 390 00:21:02,119 --> 00:21:06,399 Speaker 1: But the problem is that it happens frequently enough that 391 00:21:06,920 --> 00:21:10,480 Speaker 1: she might not trust the repair, and she might not 392 00:21:10,640 --> 00:21:13,800 Speaker 1: also be able to really tell you how she feels 393 00:21:14,840 --> 00:21:18,040 Speaker 1: in those moments. So she says it's okay, almost to 394 00:21:18,160 --> 00:21:23,120 Speaker 1: make you feel better, but I'm guessing that it has 395 00:21:23,160 --> 00:21:26,280 Speaker 1: a bigger effect on her and that it's probably not 396 00:21:26,440 --> 00:21:30,880 Speaker 1: so okay with her. And so I'm wondering about when 397 00:21:30,920 --> 00:21:35,480 Speaker 1: this first started happening, and Becca, you saw it and 398 00:21:35,920 --> 00:21:40,879 Speaker 1: you told Jake that you weren't comfortable with it. How 399 00:21:40,960 --> 00:21:43,840 Speaker 1: did those conversations go in the very beginning, and then 400 00:21:44,280 --> 00:21:46,080 Speaker 1: how have they evolved over time? 401 00:21:47,359 --> 00:21:50,240 Speaker 3: So in the beginning, I wouldn't talk to him about 402 00:21:50,240 --> 00:21:53,119 Speaker 3: it in front of Isabella. Sometimes it would be like 403 00:21:53,240 --> 00:21:55,440 Speaker 3: I would hear him yelling, and I would come from 404 00:21:55,480 --> 00:21:58,399 Speaker 3: another room and then help to kind of facilitate the 405 00:21:58,480 --> 00:22:01,320 Speaker 3: repair part. And then at a leader point, I would 406 00:22:01,359 --> 00:22:05,119 Speaker 3: talk to Jake and be like, hey, like that wasn't okay. 407 00:22:05,480 --> 00:22:08,399 Speaker 3: That probably really hurt her, and he would say, you know, 408 00:22:08,640 --> 00:22:12,800 Speaker 3: I know, I'm sorry it happened. I'm gonna work really 409 00:22:12,880 --> 00:22:14,440 Speaker 3: hard and I won't. 410 00:22:14,240 --> 00:22:14,720 Speaker 4: Do it again. 411 00:22:16,520 --> 00:22:18,920 Speaker 1: What did that mean? Work really hard? You mean Jake 412 00:22:19,000 --> 00:22:21,040 Speaker 1: on your own or going to therapy. 413 00:22:21,480 --> 00:22:25,280 Speaker 4: On my own? Try to think before reacting. 414 00:22:27,520 --> 00:22:30,200 Speaker 1: Did you ever get any tools for that from your 415 00:22:30,240 --> 00:22:34,159 Speaker 1: earlier therapy or just maybe some research you did or 416 00:22:34,160 --> 00:22:35,680 Speaker 1: a book you read or anything like that. 417 00:22:36,520 --> 00:22:38,600 Speaker 3: No, you try counting. 418 00:22:38,920 --> 00:22:41,400 Speaker 4: Yeah, I do have a repriver so often just take 419 00:22:41,400 --> 00:22:44,800 Speaker 4: a deep breath and count to maybe ten and trying 420 00:22:44,840 --> 00:22:46,080 Speaker 4: to de escalate. 421 00:22:47,119 --> 00:22:47,879 Speaker 1: Does that help at all? 422 00:22:47,960 --> 00:22:48,120 Speaker 2: Yes? 423 00:22:48,240 --> 00:22:48,640 Speaker 4: Sometimes? 424 00:22:49,960 --> 00:22:53,159 Speaker 1: And so when you hear Becca saying this, what is 425 00:22:53,200 --> 00:22:56,399 Speaker 1: it like for you? When Becca brings this up to 426 00:22:56,520 --> 00:22:59,960 Speaker 1: you that she's uncomfortable with the way that you're react 427 00:23:00,000 --> 00:23:02,560 Speaker 1: acting to Isabella frustrating? 428 00:23:03,800 --> 00:23:07,639 Speaker 4: I know I need to change for sure. It's disheartening, 429 00:23:08,320 --> 00:23:15,840 Speaker 4: you know, knowing that I'm not making I guess becka happy, 430 00:23:16,359 --> 00:23:21,240 Speaker 4: and I know the damage it's potentially doing to Isabella. 431 00:23:21,720 --> 00:23:23,360 Speaker 2: What is the damage you think it might be doing 432 00:23:23,400 --> 00:23:24,480 Speaker 2: to Isabella. 433 00:23:24,400 --> 00:23:28,399 Speaker 4: The mental damage she might have later in life. I 434 00:23:28,560 --> 00:23:32,520 Speaker 4: have noticed recently, I feel like, very recently, that she's 435 00:23:32,600 --> 00:23:36,639 Speaker 4: starting to have a little bit of a temper and 436 00:23:36,880 --> 00:23:40,600 Speaker 4: reacting to scenarios the way I would react to scenarios. 437 00:23:41,080 --> 00:23:43,359 Speaker 4: And I have actually told her not to be like 438 00:23:43,480 --> 00:23:46,120 Speaker 4: me in these scenarios, to be more like mom. 439 00:23:47,280 --> 00:23:49,600 Speaker 2: Right, But that doesn't really work when you're modeling for 440 00:23:49,720 --> 00:23:53,520 Speaker 2: her that it's okay to react in anger because here 441 00:23:53,600 --> 00:23:56,200 Speaker 2: I do it frequently. Then you can say, oh, you 442 00:23:56,240 --> 00:23:58,719 Speaker 2: shouldn't do it, But are you actually teaching her right? 443 00:23:58,800 --> 00:24:01,439 Speaker 4: Which And this is something I've just noticed, probably within 444 00:24:01,520 --> 00:24:05,040 Speaker 4: the past two weeks. That was a big eye opener 445 00:24:05,280 --> 00:24:05,640 Speaker 4: for sure. 446 00:24:07,119 --> 00:24:08,480 Speaker 1: What happened in the last two weeks. 447 00:24:09,520 --> 00:24:13,040 Speaker 4: I personally have noticed how she's been reacting to certain scenarios. 448 00:24:13,920 --> 00:24:15,920 Speaker 2: And what does that change for you that you noticing 449 00:24:16,000 --> 00:24:17,080 Speaker 2: that she's imitating you? 450 00:24:18,359 --> 00:24:20,080 Speaker 4: Sad to say, but that's so far nothing? 451 00:24:21,800 --> 00:24:22,119 Speaker 2: Why not? 452 00:24:23,800 --> 00:24:25,560 Speaker 4: I don't have an answer for that. I don't know. 453 00:24:26,920 --> 00:24:30,840 Speaker 1: You butt heads with your father? Did your parents yell 454 00:24:30,880 --> 00:24:31,080 Speaker 1: at you? 455 00:24:31,320 --> 00:24:31,359 Speaker 3: No? 456 00:24:32,160 --> 00:24:32,200 Speaker 4: No? 457 00:24:33,400 --> 00:24:33,440 Speaker 3: No. 458 00:24:35,080 --> 00:24:37,000 Speaker 4: The reason my dad and I butt head so much 459 00:24:37,119 --> 00:24:40,000 Speaker 4: is he loves getting under people's skin, Like if he 460 00:24:40,200 --> 00:24:44,000 Speaker 4: knows something is bothering me, he will just dig and 461 00:24:44,119 --> 00:24:45,920 Speaker 4: dig and dig until I explode. 462 00:24:46,160 --> 00:24:48,639 Speaker 1: So you're the one who explodes, but he does, yes, and. 463 00:24:48,680 --> 00:24:50,919 Speaker 4: Then once I explode, then it's made him yelling at 464 00:24:50,960 --> 00:24:51,239 Speaker 4: each other. 465 00:24:53,840 --> 00:24:57,840 Speaker 1: So the anger management that you felt you needed in 466 00:24:57,960 --> 00:25:01,840 Speaker 1: your early twenties when you went to a therapist? What 467 00:25:02,040 --> 00:25:04,400 Speaker 1: precipitated that? What was going on in your life where 468 00:25:04,400 --> 00:25:06,440 Speaker 1: you felt like, I really need to understand this better? 469 00:25:07,840 --> 00:25:11,359 Speaker 4: A previous relationship set of if I didn't do something 470 00:25:11,400 --> 00:25:14,320 Speaker 4: about it and see a therapist, then she was leaving. 471 00:25:15,240 --> 00:25:18,720 Speaker 1: And did you agree that maybe it was problematic what 472 00:25:18,880 --> 00:25:20,840 Speaker 1: was going on? Or did you just go because you 473 00:25:20,880 --> 00:25:24,680 Speaker 1: didn't want to lose her? I just want so you 474 00:25:24,720 --> 00:25:28,280 Speaker 1: didn't think it was really problematic at the time like 475 00:25:28,400 --> 00:25:30,440 Speaker 1: you do now, because now you're saying you do. 476 00:25:32,359 --> 00:25:34,720 Speaker 2: Are you saying that now, Jake? Do you think that 477 00:25:34,760 --> 00:25:36,880 Speaker 2: it's problematic now? Yeah? 478 00:25:37,160 --> 00:25:38,400 Speaker 4: Yeah, definitely. 479 00:25:40,280 --> 00:25:42,919 Speaker 1: What's different between now and then? Before you didn't think 480 00:25:42,960 --> 00:25:45,200 Speaker 1: it was problematic, but now you do. What's changed for you? 481 00:25:45,640 --> 00:25:50,920 Speaker 4: The kids? Seeing the way Isabella is reacting to things now, 482 00:25:51,960 --> 00:25:52,960 Speaker 4: it's definitely the kids. 483 00:25:53,680 --> 00:25:55,680 Speaker 1: Does this happen with your son too. I know he's 484 00:25:56,080 --> 00:25:58,119 Speaker 1: five months, but does it happen with him at all? 485 00:25:58,840 --> 00:26:08,800 Speaker 4: Yeah, crying, crying is just just gets under my skin incredibly. 486 00:26:09,160 --> 00:26:16,440 Speaker 4: And Isabella was she very rarely cried. She was just 487 00:26:16,760 --> 00:26:20,040 Speaker 4: always this happy baby. And then Dean, he was just 488 00:26:20,280 --> 00:26:24,520 Speaker 4: constantly crying and it was definitely frustrating. 489 00:26:26,200 --> 00:26:29,639 Speaker 2: It's interesting, Jake, because the two things that you've mentioned 490 00:26:29,680 --> 00:26:34,359 Speaker 2: that really frustrate you are crying and messages, and you 491 00:26:34,600 --> 00:26:39,800 Speaker 2: have a baby and a toddler and a wife with 492 00:26:39,960 --> 00:26:44,920 Speaker 2: a what about a problem? So it's really it's a 493 00:26:44,960 --> 00:26:48,200 Speaker 2: deadly combination. And I'm talking about it, but truly, it 494 00:26:48,240 --> 00:26:51,280 Speaker 2: seems that if those are the sensitivities, you know, there's 495 00:26:51,520 --> 00:26:55,800 Speaker 2: just fertile ground to be frustrated a lot. Now, you 496 00:26:55,880 --> 00:26:57,639 Speaker 2: said that you do take it seriously. Now, you do 497 00:26:57,800 --> 00:27:01,360 Speaker 2: recognize now that it's a problem, and recently so I'll 498 00:27:01,400 --> 00:27:04,119 Speaker 2: give you that. But even in the recent couple of 499 00:27:04,160 --> 00:27:07,280 Speaker 2: weeks where it's occurred to you more, have you thought 500 00:27:07,359 --> 00:27:10,120 Speaker 2: of doing any research, you know, Lorios, if you've read 501 00:27:10,119 --> 00:27:13,000 Speaker 2: any books or read any articles, is that something you've 502 00:27:13,040 --> 00:27:16,760 Speaker 2: thought about acquiring tools? Because part of the problem you 503 00:27:16,880 --> 00:27:19,240 Speaker 2: have is you have no tools. You have the you know, count, 504 00:27:19,320 --> 00:27:22,320 Speaker 2: but that's it. Otherwise it's just strain and hope it 505 00:27:22,359 --> 00:27:24,600 Speaker 2: doesn't come out, which is not a tool. Have you 506 00:27:24,920 --> 00:27:27,720 Speaker 2: thought about looking for tools? Discuss that with Beckap perhaps 507 00:27:27,720 --> 00:27:31,720 Speaker 2: over the past couple of weeks, I have not. 508 00:27:33,040 --> 00:27:35,919 Speaker 1: I'm thinking about what these conversations might look like between 509 00:27:35,920 --> 00:27:38,480 Speaker 1: the two of you, because it sounds like they've come 510 00:27:38,600 --> 00:27:43,040 Speaker 1: up quite a bit. You're nodding, so, yes, okay. Sometimes 511 00:27:43,080 --> 00:27:45,760 Speaker 1: when we have a lot of feelings, we go numb. 512 00:27:47,040 --> 00:27:49,360 Speaker 1: And what I'm hearing with you, Jake is that there's 513 00:27:49,480 --> 00:27:53,840 Speaker 1: almost like something isn't going in because I imagine that 514 00:27:53,960 --> 00:27:57,800 Speaker 1: maybe you go a little bit numb. And people are 515 00:27:57,880 --> 00:28:00,400 Speaker 1: confused about numbness. Often they think, if I go numb, 516 00:28:00,520 --> 00:28:04,960 Speaker 1: I'm not feeling anything. But numbness isn't the absence of feelings. 517 00:28:05,040 --> 00:28:07,840 Speaker 1: Numbness is a sense of being overwhelmed by too many feelings. 518 00:28:08,000 --> 00:28:11,440 Speaker 1: We can't process all the feelings, and we go numb. 519 00:28:11,680 --> 00:28:15,000 Speaker 1: I'm wondering, Becka, from your perspective, what is it like 520 00:28:15,200 --> 00:28:17,399 Speaker 1: when you're trying to talk to Jake about this? And 521 00:28:17,720 --> 00:28:19,960 Speaker 1: in your letter you said you've tried various ways of 522 00:28:21,000 --> 00:28:23,919 Speaker 1: setting boundaries around it, like we should go to therapy, 523 00:28:24,080 --> 00:28:26,880 Speaker 1: or you should go to anger management, or I might 524 00:28:27,040 --> 00:28:31,240 Speaker 1: leave you. So Jake, you're saying you go numb in 525 00:28:31,320 --> 00:28:34,920 Speaker 1: these conversations pretty much, that you don't really have a 526 00:28:35,040 --> 00:28:37,800 Speaker 1: sense of what you're feeling when she's talking about it, 527 00:28:38,720 --> 00:28:41,280 Speaker 1: and Becca, I'm wondering for you, what is it like 528 00:28:41,360 --> 00:28:45,160 Speaker 1: when you're talking to Jake and it seems like maybe 529 00:28:46,000 --> 00:28:48,920 Speaker 1: it's not being received by him. 530 00:28:50,000 --> 00:28:57,320 Speaker 3: Invalidating and really frustrating because I feel like there should 531 00:28:57,360 --> 00:29:00,880 Speaker 3: be an emotional reaction and that there should be some openness, 532 00:29:01,440 --> 00:29:05,960 Speaker 3: and I suspect that he is really motivated deep down 533 00:29:06,760 --> 00:29:09,640 Speaker 3: and is hurt by the fact that he's like lashing 534 00:29:09,720 --> 00:29:14,960 Speaker 3: out and potentially damaging Isabella and our relationship. But when 535 00:29:15,400 --> 00:29:18,120 Speaker 3: I don't get anything out of him except for I'll 536 00:29:18,200 --> 00:29:21,600 Speaker 3: try harder, it hurts. It makes me feel like he 537 00:29:21,960 --> 00:29:26,640 Speaker 3: doesn't care. And then I actually like didn't know about 538 00:29:26,680 --> 00:29:29,520 Speaker 3: the therapy they had gone to before, and it's just 539 00:29:29,600 --> 00:29:32,680 Speaker 3: a little hurtful to hear that, like that person saying 540 00:29:32,720 --> 00:29:36,120 Speaker 3: that she might leave would lead to him being like, Okay, 541 00:29:36,440 --> 00:29:40,080 Speaker 3: I'm going to go get therapy, but me saying it's 542 00:29:40,160 --> 00:29:43,760 Speaker 3: not healthy for our daughter. You need to get therapy 543 00:29:43,960 --> 00:29:46,040 Speaker 3: or we're going to leave so that I can protect her. 544 00:29:47,880 --> 00:29:51,000 Speaker 3: Resulted in like, I'm not going to get therapy. I'm 545 00:29:51,040 --> 00:29:52,000 Speaker 3: just going to try harder. 546 00:29:53,560 --> 00:29:57,120 Speaker 1: You know, I'm looking at your face, Jake, and I 547 00:29:57,200 --> 00:30:01,560 Speaker 1: see so much coming across your face right now. Because 548 00:30:01,600 --> 00:30:04,600 Speaker 1: I was looking at your face, there were these conflicting 549 00:30:04,800 --> 00:30:08,560 Speaker 1: emotions running through you, and they probably lasted a millisecond 550 00:30:08,720 --> 00:30:12,680 Speaker 1: because you don't want to feel them, so you have 551 00:30:12,800 --> 00:30:14,720 Speaker 1: become very skilled at getting rid of them as soon 552 00:30:14,760 --> 00:30:17,440 Speaker 1: as they show up. And on the one hand, I 553 00:30:17,480 --> 00:30:19,960 Speaker 1: could see the pain. I could see the pain of 554 00:30:20,040 --> 00:30:22,920 Speaker 1: I'm hurting these people that I love. I could see 555 00:30:22,960 --> 00:30:26,120 Speaker 1: the pain of I don't want to lose my wife. 556 00:30:26,720 --> 00:30:31,080 Speaker 1: I don't want to damage my daughter. And I imagine 557 00:30:31,120 --> 00:30:35,240 Speaker 1: too that there's a part of you that's hard to acknowledge, 558 00:30:35,600 --> 00:30:38,200 Speaker 1: which might be this fantasy which I don't think you 559 00:30:38,280 --> 00:30:40,680 Speaker 1: actually want to come true. But sometimes we have fantasies 560 00:30:40,680 --> 00:30:42,959 Speaker 1: about these things when we feel really trapped and stuck, 561 00:30:44,520 --> 00:30:48,280 Speaker 1: and maybe it would be a relief, Maybe I would 562 00:30:48,320 --> 00:30:51,400 Speaker 1: get that freedom that I really wanted because now I 563 00:30:51,480 --> 00:30:54,640 Speaker 1: have two kids. And in your letter back you were 564 00:30:54,680 --> 00:30:58,400 Speaker 1: saying it really escalated during your second pregnancy and the 565 00:30:58,480 --> 00:31:03,920 Speaker 1: postpartum Now there's really a lack of freedom with the 566 00:31:03,960 --> 00:31:06,840 Speaker 1: two young ones, and that there's a part of you, 567 00:31:06,960 --> 00:31:09,800 Speaker 1: Jake that doesn't know what to do with this real need, 568 00:31:09,920 --> 00:31:13,160 Speaker 1: and it's a legitimate need to have some kind of freedom, 569 00:31:13,400 --> 00:31:15,960 Speaker 1: especially when this came at a time in your life 570 00:31:16,000 --> 00:31:18,479 Speaker 1: when you weren't expecting to have to give it up. 571 00:31:20,320 --> 00:31:22,520 Speaker 1: And you're nodding, so I can see that that's true too, 572 00:31:23,280 --> 00:31:26,680 Speaker 1: And it's okay to be able to talk about all 573 00:31:26,880 --> 00:31:31,440 Speaker 1: the different ingredients here and not just what you think 574 00:31:31,520 --> 00:31:34,719 Speaker 1: Becca wants to hear, but what the truth of your 575 00:31:34,800 --> 00:31:37,840 Speaker 1: experience is, because I actually think that will help you 576 00:31:38,040 --> 00:31:42,080 Speaker 1: to manage your anger differently. And so I'm wondering if 577 00:31:42,120 --> 00:31:45,880 Speaker 1: we could try a little exercise here right now where 578 00:31:45,920 --> 00:31:48,160 Speaker 1: you guys can talk about this a little bit differently. 579 00:31:48,440 --> 00:31:49,960 Speaker 1: Are you guys willing to try that? 580 00:31:51,480 --> 00:31:51,680 Speaker 3: Yeah? 581 00:31:51,800 --> 00:31:55,640 Speaker 1: Yeah, okay, So if you can face each other and 582 00:31:56,080 --> 00:31:59,800 Speaker 1: if you can hold hands with each other, I wonder 583 00:31:59,840 --> 00:32:03,080 Speaker 1: if Becca you can show Jake that you can tolerate 584 00:32:04,480 --> 00:32:08,120 Speaker 1: the truth of his experience, all of it. So, Jake, 585 00:32:08,160 --> 00:32:10,479 Speaker 1: I'm wondering if you could tell Becca a little bit 586 00:32:10,600 --> 00:32:16,000 Speaker 1: about the conflict that you're experiencing of on the one hand, 587 00:32:16,320 --> 00:32:18,640 Speaker 1: wanting to be a really good father and a really 588 00:32:18,680 --> 00:32:22,760 Speaker 1: good partner, and on the other hand, feeling really ripped 589 00:32:22,800 --> 00:32:26,720 Speaker 1: off and feeling like sometimes it just feels really unfair, 590 00:32:27,480 --> 00:32:31,280 Speaker 1: and sometimes you need a break, and you don't quite 591 00:32:31,440 --> 00:32:33,240 Speaker 1: know what to do with all of these feelings, and 592 00:32:33,320 --> 00:32:35,440 Speaker 1: you don't even know how to talk to Becca about them. 593 00:32:36,200 --> 00:32:38,600 Speaker 1: Can you share whatever's going on with you and your 594 00:32:38,640 --> 00:32:41,240 Speaker 1: own words with her? And Becca, I just want you 595 00:32:41,320 --> 00:32:43,960 Speaker 1: to breathe through this. You don't need to respond, You 596 00:32:44,200 --> 00:32:47,360 Speaker 1: just need to be present so that you can open 597 00:32:47,480 --> 00:32:49,720 Speaker 1: up a space between you for the truth. 598 00:32:52,440 --> 00:33:04,680 Speaker 4: Like we've discussed, I do have me time ever since 599 00:33:04,760 --> 00:33:10,280 Speaker 4: the new job. I don't ever get any time. I 600 00:33:10,360 --> 00:33:13,560 Speaker 4: love you guys, and we do have a lot of 601 00:33:13,640 --> 00:33:23,000 Speaker 4: fun together. There's definitely times that I definitely want to 602 00:33:23,120 --> 00:33:28,320 Speaker 4: run away, There's no doubt about it. But I will 603 00:33:29,080 --> 00:33:32,320 Speaker 4: always be here. I don't ever want to go away. 604 00:33:32,600 --> 00:33:33,320 Speaker 4: I love you, guys. 605 00:33:34,760 --> 00:33:36,880 Speaker 2: Could you say jink a little bit about how it 606 00:33:37,000 --> 00:33:39,680 Speaker 2: feels in those moments we want to run away? 607 00:33:44,000 --> 00:33:46,680 Speaker 4: Talking about feelings. One thing I don't feeling. 608 00:33:47,480 --> 00:33:49,239 Speaker 1: I want to reframe that for you a little bit, 609 00:33:49,600 --> 00:33:53,800 Speaker 1: because I think that you're not comfortable doing it, but 610 00:33:53,920 --> 00:33:56,840 Speaker 1: I don't know yet whether you like doing it, because 611 00:33:56,840 --> 00:33:59,160 Speaker 1: I have a feeling that once you get comfortable talking 612 00:33:59,200 --> 00:34:02,880 Speaker 1: about your feelings, you will like it very much because 613 00:34:02,920 --> 00:34:05,680 Speaker 1: it will help you to have a place to go 614 00:34:05,920 --> 00:34:08,279 Speaker 1: with them instead of doing what you're doing with them now. 615 00:34:10,080 --> 00:34:12,200 Speaker 1: And Becca, watch out because he might start talking a 616 00:34:12,280 --> 00:34:14,640 Speaker 1: lot about his feelings in the future once he realizes 617 00:34:14,719 --> 00:34:15,480 Speaker 1: how much he likes it. 618 00:34:20,040 --> 00:34:22,000 Speaker 4: The times that I want to just run away, I 619 00:34:22,120 --> 00:34:27,879 Speaker 4: think of the days having fun, what could have been 620 00:34:28,160 --> 00:34:36,160 Speaker 4: without kids, the traveling, the adventures. I feel like my 621 00:34:36,360 --> 00:34:40,480 Speaker 4: time was cut short. 622 00:34:42,960 --> 00:34:43,200 Speaker 3: And it. 623 00:34:44,960 --> 00:34:52,320 Speaker 4: Just wasn't ready to give up the nights out with 624 00:34:52,400 --> 00:34:54,439 Speaker 4: the boys and the trips. 625 00:34:56,560 --> 00:34:59,600 Speaker 2: When Isabella is frustrating you and you have those thoughts 626 00:34:59,640 --> 00:35:04,960 Speaker 2: about but I got rubbed of this. You're juxtaposing feeling 627 00:35:05,840 --> 00:35:09,480 Speaker 2: really free and liberated and fun, but you're juxtaposing that 628 00:35:09,680 --> 00:35:13,640 Speaker 2: with feeling in that moment. What is it trapped? Is 629 00:35:13,719 --> 00:35:18,360 Speaker 2: it suffocated? Is it stressed? Is it sad? I'm just 630 00:35:18,400 --> 00:35:20,279 Speaker 2: giving you different words, but I want you to try 631 00:35:20,320 --> 00:35:23,520 Speaker 2: and use your own words to describe the feeling. 632 00:35:24,320 --> 00:35:28,160 Speaker 4: It's sad. Was the one thing that you said that 633 00:35:28,280 --> 00:35:37,000 Speaker 4: definitely definitely feel sad, sorry for myself, self pity. I 634 00:35:37,040 --> 00:35:42,040 Speaker 4: know I'm being selfish, that's a judgment. But going back 635 00:35:42,080 --> 00:35:47,080 Speaker 4: to the feelings you've talked about feeling sad, I'm associating 636 00:35:47,080 --> 00:35:52,600 Speaker 4: the sadness with grief. That you're grieving this idea of 637 00:35:52,719 --> 00:35:56,800 Speaker 4: this part of your life that you didn't get to 638 00:35:56,880 --> 00:36:02,759 Speaker 4: really complete in the way you wanted to. And that 639 00:36:02,920 --> 00:36:07,080 Speaker 4: sometimes because you aren't able to really talk about the grief, 640 00:36:08,560 --> 00:36:11,720 Speaker 4: when something is right in front of you that reminds 641 00:36:11,760 --> 00:36:15,799 Speaker 4: you of what you lost, that that triggers that big 642 00:36:15,920 --> 00:36:25,520 Speaker 4: reaction in you. Is that what happens for you. I 643 00:36:25,600 --> 00:36:30,440 Speaker 4: don't know what happened when I just said that. I 644 00:36:30,560 --> 00:36:32,960 Speaker 4: was just thinking that I love you well, not you. 645 00:36:34,560 --> 00:36:42,120 Speaker 1: But do you see how you got distracted from the feeling? Yeah, yeah, yes, 646 00:36:42,760 --> 00:36:45,319 Speaker 1: you said sometimes it frustrates you that when you're yelling 647 00:36:45,360 --> 00:36:48,920 Speaker 1: at Isabella she laughs. And when I just made you 648 00:36:48,960 --> 00:36:52,040 Speaker 1: a little bit uncomfortable by asking you to think about 649 00:36:52,080 --> 00:36:55,960 Speaker 1: your feelings, you laughed. So I want you to think 650 00:36:56,000 --> 00:36:59,440 Speaker 1: about that next time you're yelling at Isabella and she laughs. 651 00:37:00,120 --> 00:37:03,719 Speaker 1: It means she's uncomfortable. She's feeling something but wants to 652 00:37:03,719 --> 00:37:06,040 Speaker 1: get rid of it, just like you're doing right now. 653 00:37:07,920 --> 00:37:10,080 Speaker 1: So let's go back for a second to that feeling. 654 00:37:11,719 --> 00:37:16,600 Speaker 1: I imagine that there's some grieving that you haven't done 655 00:37:18,800 --> 00:37:22,400 Speaker 1: around the loss of this version of this time in 656 00:37:22,480 --> 00:37:26,560 Speaker 1: your life. That would look a little different. And when 657 00:37:26,800 --> 00:37:31,080 Speaker 1: Isabella does something, when the baby is crying, that's a 658 00:37:31,239 --> 00:37:36,680 Speaker 1: stark reminder of what you have lost, and so I 659 00:37:36,760 --> 00:37:40,680 Speaker 1: imagine that it brings up those feelings of grief and loss, 660 00:37:41,719 --> 00:37:45,200 Speaker 1: and you get really angry because these are unprocessed feelings 661 00:37:45,239 --> 00:37:51,160 Speaker 1: of grief and loss. So when you said sad, I 662 00:37:51,239 --> 00:37:55,400 Speaker 1: can see that because that's grief. That's the sadness. So 663 00:37:55,520 --> 00:37:57,840 Speaker 1: you're nodding to that. Does that resonate with you? 664 00:37:58,760 --> 00:37:58,960 Speaker 4: Yes? 665 00:37:59,520 --> 00:38:04,440 Speaker 2: Yes, Jake. I think part of what blocks you from 666 00:38:05,560 --> 00:38:09,759 Speaker 2: talking to Becca about these feelings about feeling the loss, 667 00:38:09,840 --> 00:38:13,279 Speaker 2: about feeling sad is what you said afterwards, Well, that 668 00:38:13,400 --> 00:38:18,840 Speaker 2: feels selfish. And I'm wondering if you realize that Becca 669 00:38:18,960 --> 00:38:23,400 Speaker 2: must be having some of the same feelings because her 670 00:38:24,480 --> 00:38:28,600 Speaker 2: days of independence were also cut short in that way. 671 00:38:28,680 --> 00:38:31,400 Speaker 2: Has it occurred to you that these might be feelings 672 00:38:31,480 --> 00:38:35,840 Speaker 2: she's having as well to some degree, No, it. 673 00:38:35,880 --> 00:38:38,400 Speaker 1: Did not, and they might not be exactly the same feelings, 674 00:38:38,440 --> 00:38:42,560 Speaker 1: but she probably has her own experience of parenthood where 675 00:38:43,200 --> 00:38:48,080 Speaker 1: it's very challenging, especially if she's still in medical school 676 00:38:48,200 --> 00:38:53,000 Speaker 1: or doing residency or starting out. Becca, can you talk 677 00:38:53,080 --> 00:38:57,399 Speaker 1: to Jake a little bit about the various experiences you've 678 00:38:57,440 --> 00:38:58,880 Speaker 1: had as a new parent. 679 00:39:03,239 --> 00:39:08,120 Speaker 3: Yeah, So, in Isabella I was born, I had this 680 00:39:08,239 --> 00:39:10,279 Speaker 3: idea of kind of the mom. I was going to 681 00:39:10,320 --> 00:39:14,799 Speaker 3: be a super mom, like that I could handle residency 682 00:39:14,920 --> 00:39:18,399 Speaker 3: and I could be this great mom and do both 683 00:39:18,480 --> 00:39:23,080 Speaker 3: things one hundred percent. And it's been tough realizing that, 684 00:39:23,280 --> 00:39:27,520 Speaker 3: like there is a version of myself in residency and 685 00:39:27,600 --> 00:39:31,640 Speaker 3: like at work that I could have been if I 686 00:39:31,760 --> 00:39:35,560 Speaker 3: didn't have kids, and like a level of devotion I 687 00:39:35,600 --> 00:39:39,080 Speaker 3: could have thrown myself in. And at the same time, 688 00:39:39,280 --> 00:39:41,880 Speaker 3: like if I didn't have residency or commitment to like 689 00:39:42,120 --> 00:39:44,440 Speaker 3: this line of work, there's a version of myself that, 690 00:39:44,760 --> 00:39:46,719 Speaker 3: like a mom version of myself I could be for 691 00:39:46,920 --> 00:39:50,000 Speaker 3: Isabella and for Dean, and kind of feeling like I'm 692 00:39:50,040 --> 00:39:55,200 Speaker 3: always falling short in both places. That's been been really tough. 693 00:39:57,000 --> 00:39:59,160 Speaker 1: Jake, what is it like for you to hear that 694 00:39:59,320 --> 00:40:03,480 Speaker 1: she also struggles with imagining these different versions of her 695 00:40:03,600 --> 00:40:09,040 Speaker 1: life if she didn't have kids, how she would perform 696 00:40:09,080 --> 00:40:11,799 Speaker 1: at work, if she didn't have work, how she would 697 00:40:11,800 --> 00:40:14,400 Speaker 1: be as a parent. Did you know that you had 698 00:40:14,480 --> 00:40:19,960 Speaker 1: that in common, these fantasy lives that you think about sometimes, No, 699 00:40:20,239 --> 00:40:20,759 Speaker 1: I didn't know. 700 00:40:23,719 --> 00:40:27,560 Speaker 4: I want you to be happy. So it's definitely very 701 00:40:27,680 --> 00:40:31,719 Speaker 4: sad to hear that you also have I guess this 702 00:40:33,120 --> 00:40:35,400 Speaker 4: conflict or battle of what could be? 703 00:40:36,680 --> 00:40:38,840 Speaker 1: Is it also a little bit of a relief to 704 00:40:39,040 --> 00:40:44,640 Speaker 1: know that both of you, like many new parents, have struggled. 705 00:40:45,719 --> 00:40:51,560 Speaker 2: Yeah. Yes, most new parents have moments where they wish 706 00:40:51,640 --> 00:40:55,320 Speaker 2: there was an eject button that they could smick because 707 00:40:55,360 --> 00:40:59,960 Speaker 2: it's just so much and it's not unusual and doesn't 708 00:41:00,080 --> 00:41:02,000 Speaker 2: mean they don't love their kids. It just means it 709 00:41:02,080 --> 00:41:05,960 Speaker 2: can be really overwhelming. And the thing, Jake, is that 710 00:41:06,760 --> 00:41:10,160 Speaker 2: most of the feelings that you're described being are normative. 711 00:41:10,880 --> 00:41:15,240 Speaker 2: There's nothing unusual about them, especially when a pregnancy is unplanned. 712 00:41:16,920 --> 00:41:18,760 Speaker 2: But I think there's a way in which you feel 713 00:41:19,320 --> 00:41:21,880 Speaker 2: that you shouldn't have these feelings, or it's selfish of 714 00:41:21,960 --> 00:41:26,279 Speaker 2: you to have these most natural of thoughts. And so 715 00:41:26,880 --> 00:41:29,480 Speaker 2: I'm glad you say that you feel this relief to 716 00:41:29,520 --> 00:41:33,200 Speaker 2: hear that Becca has her version of those feelings, as 717 00:41:33,280 --> 00:41:37,520 Speaker 2: do most parents, and therein is the benefit of sharing 718 00:41:37,600 --> 00:41:42,120 Speaker 2: your feelings. You get to find out that your partner 719 00:41:42,640 --> 00:41:45,520 Speaker 2: has similar ones and that there's something that actually unites 720 00:41:45,600 --> 00:41:48,880 Speaker 2: you in these feelings rather than divides. You're not that 721 00:41:49,040 --> 00:41:53,120 Speaker 2: I'm saying that, but is that how it feels to you? Yes? 722 00:41:53,520 --> 00:41:57,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, Becca? Can you tell Jake what it was like 723 00:41:58,160 --> 00:42:00,760 Speaker 1: to hear all of that from him earlier? 724 00:42:00,840 --> 00:42:04,239 Speaker 3: Refreshing? So I feel like it's a treat whenever I 725 00:42:04,320 --> 00:42:07,160 Speaker 3: get to hear kind of like that deep of stuff 726 00:42:07,200 --> 00:42:07,440 Speaker 3: from you. 727 00:42:08,480 --> 00:42:10,640 Speaker 1: Did you feel that he was selfish when you heard 728 00:42:10,680 --> 00:42:13,719 Speaker 1: that or what was your impression of his fantasy of 729 00:42:13,840 --> 00:42:16,720 Speaker 1: sometimes wanting to hit the check button as Guy said. 730 00:42:19,200 --> 00:42:21,400 Speaker 3: I didn't think it was selfish. I could like identify 731 00:42:21,520 --> 00:42:24,960 Speaker 3: with it kind of like mirrored like feelings that I've 732 00:42:25,000 --> 00:42:29,319 Speaker 3: had before. And I feel like, you know, Jake would 733 00:42:29,360 --> 00:42:31,480 Speaker 3: be somebody safe that I could talk to that about 734 00:42:31,600 --> 00:42:36,120 Speaker 3: not have to worry about being judged, And I'm glad 735 00:42:36,239 --> 00:42:38,560 Speaker 3: to know that he can say that to me, that 736 00:42:38,640 --> 00:42:41,239 Speaker 3: we're both feeling that sometimes. 737 00:42:41,760 --> 00:42:44,480 Speaker 1: Jake, have you ever shared this kind of feeling with anybody, 738 00:42:45,040 --> 00:42:47,879 Speaker 1: not just about having kids, but something that felt really 739 00:42:48,000 --> 00:42:50,840 Speaker 1: shameful to you, or something that made you feel not 740 00:42:50,960 --> 00:42:51,840 Speaker 1: good about yourself. 741 00:42:52,560 --> 00:42:53,120 Speaker 4: I don't think so. 742 00:42:53,800 --> 00:42:55,120 Speaker 1: So this is a new experience. 743 00:42:56,120 --> 00:43:00,319 Speaker 2: Yeah, yes, I think part of what might hold you back, Jake, 744 00:43:00,480 --> 00:43:04,640 Speaker 2: is quite quite basic in what it is, And I 745 00:43:04,719 --> 00:43:07,440 Speaker 2: think that is that you have trouble, like many people, 746 00:43:08,920 --> 00:43:14,120 Speaker 2: identifying what you feel, but specifically putting a name to it. 747 00:43:15,000 --> 00:43:18,319 Speaker 2: It was difficult for you to come up with those 748 00:43:18,440 --> 00:43:22,359 Speaker 2: names because it's a mush of feelings. You know you're 749 00:43:22,400 --> 00:43:24,800 Speaker 2: feeling something, but you're feeling it in your chest and 750 00:43:24,880 --> 00:43:27,360 Speaker 2: your throat and your shoulders and your stomach and you 751 00:43:27,440 --> 00:43:29,840 Speaker 2: it's difficult to tell which is which and what is what. 752 00:43:31,280 --> 00:43:34,160 Speaker 2: But the more practice you have naming those feelings, the 753 00:43:34,800 --> 00:43:37,880 Speaker 2: more fluent you get at being able to do that. 754 00:43:38,080 --> 00:43:41,000 Speaker 2: And I think that it's one of the things that's 755 00:43:41,040 --> 00:43:43,480 Speaker 2: been holding you back that you just worry that you 756 00:43:43,760 --> 00:43:46,520 Speaker 2: don't have the words. You might not be able to 757 00:43:46,719 --> 00:43:49,239 Speaker 2: identify exactly what you're feeling, but even if you can, 758 00:43:49,440 --> 00:43:50,800 Speaker 2: it's hard to put words. 759 00:43:51,880 --> 00:43:56,440 Speaker 4: Yeah, you nailed it, not having the words. What you 760 00:43:56,600 --> 00:43:59,280 Speaker 4: just said was perfect, Becca. 761 00:43:59,320 --> 00:44:03,000 Speaker 2: How confident do you feel with your ability to name 762 00:44:03,080 --> 00:44:06,440 Speaker 2: your feelings, identify them, speak about them, label them. 763 00:44:08,000 --> 00:44:12,680 Speaker 3: I feel very comfortable. I know some people for kids, 764 00:44:12,760 --> 00:44:14,799 Speaker 3: they want them to be like very smart, so they'll 765 00:44:14,840 --> 00:44:18,560 Speaker 3: work with them on like math and letters and stuff. 766 00:44:18,920 --> 00:44:23,800 Speaker 3: But for me, it's like identifying emotions. So with Isabella, 767 00:44:24,000 --> 00:44:26,920 Speaker 3: like she can tell you why she's feeling how she's feeling. 768 00:44:28,080 --> 00:44:32,680 Speaker 1: So what does Isabella say after these incidents happen where 769 00:44:33,520 --> 00:44:36,360 Speaker 1: Jake is angry with her? Does she talk to you 770 00:44:36,719 --> 00:44:39,800 Speaker 1: Becca or does she talk to you Jake about what 771 00:44:40,000 --> 00:44:43,200 Speaker 1: she feels? Does she have the vocabulary to do that? 772 00:44:45,280 --> 00:44:46,839 Speaker 1: I would say yes, what does she actually say? 773 00:44:48,520 --> 00:44:54,520 Speaker 4: She knows when I'm upset with work, and she will 774 00:44:54,600 --> 00:44:59,600 Speaker 4: come over and actually tell me how I'm feeling. Right, See, 775 00:44:59,640 --> 00:45:02,520 Speaker 4: you're up set, daddy, maybe a hug will make you 776 00:45:02,600 --> 00:45:05,319 Speaker 4: feel better, and she'll give me a hug. 777 00:45:05,520 --> 00:45:09,200 Speaker 1: And on the one hand, that's very cute because she's little, 778 00:45:09,320 --> 00:45:13,239 Speaker 1: and it also shows empathy. But it's also possible that 779 00:45:13,320 --> 00:45:16,200 Speaker 1: she does that because she knows that when Daddy is upset, 780 00:45:16,880 --> 00:45:21,960 Speaker 1: Daddy can get really mad. Yeah, and so I want 781 00:45:22,000 --> 00:45:24,400 Speaker 1: you to see both sides of that. That she may 782 00:45:24,520 --> 00:45:27,880 Speaker 1: feel like she needs to regulate you so that you 783 00:45:27,920 --> 00:45:31,120 Speaker 1: don't lash out at her makes sense, And so I'm 784 00:45:31,160 --> 00:45:35,040 Speaker 1: wondering maybe with beccasins Becca, you say you're a little 785 00:45:35,080 --> 00:45:39,480 Speaker 1: bit more fluent with feelings. Does she ever say to you, 786 00:45:40,400 --> 00:45:44,760 Speaker 1: I was scared of daddy, or I'm really mad at daddy, 787 00:45:44,960 --> 00:45:49,560 Speaker 1: or I was really sad? Does she ever talk about 788 00:45:49,640 --> 00:45:51,360 Speaker 1: her experience of being yelled at with you? 789 00:45:52,239 --> 00:45:56,200 Speaker 3: Yeah, all three of those. She usually doesn't spend a 790 00:45:56,239 --> 00:45:59,840 Speaker 3: lot of time talking about it, but she'll like, I 791 00:46:00,120 --> 00:46:02,000 Speaker 3: was sad when Daddy yelled at me, and I don't 792 00:46:02,040 --> 00:46:04,120 Speaker 3: know why he yelled at me. And we'll kind of 793 00:46:04,200 --> 00:46:08,279 Speaker 3: talk about, oh, this is where Daddy is coming from, 794 00:46:08,360 --> 00:46:11,279 Speaker 3: and this is where you were coming from, and you know, 795 00:46:11,440 --> 00:46:13,960 Speaker 3: daddy's taking some space right now because that's how he 796 00:46:15,000 --> 00:46:17,399 Speaker 3: calms down to feel better or what would feel good 797 00:46:17,440 --> 00:46:22,600 Speaker 3: for you. And then I'll end up telling Jake how 798 00:46:23,000 --> 00:46:26,160 Speaker 3: Isabella is feeling, and then he'll go and do the 799 00:46:26,320 --> 00:46:27,920 Speaker 3: like repair work you mentioned earlier. 800 00:46:29,760 --> 00:46:32,640 Speaker 1: Do you ever say to Isabella that even though Daddy 801 00:46:32,719 --> 00:46:35,920 Speaker 1: was upset, that it's not okay that he yelled at her. 802 00:46:38,680 --> 00:46:41,200 Speaker 3: I do, but I don't know how much of that 803 00:46:41,360 --> 00:46:45,799 Speaker 3: gets through. And I'll tell her like, she's not responsible 804 00:46:45,960 --> 00:46:49,520 Speaker 3: for Daddy getting mad, and but she's still a good 805 00:46:49,600 --> 00:46:50,799 Speaker 3: kid and everybody gets mad. 806 00:46:50,880 --> 00:46:53,839 Speaker 1: Sometimes there's another way to deal with her anger when 807 00:46:53,880 --> 00:46:56,640 Speaker 1: we get mad, that we can use a different voice 808 00:46:56,719 --> 00:46:58,720 Speaker 1: to express what we're upset about. 809 00:46:59,160 --> 00:47:02,399 Speaker 3: I'll have to keep that in my toolbox to say 810 00:47:02,520 --> 00:47:03,200 Speaker 3: next time. 811 00:47:04,440 --> 00:47:08,320 Speaker 1: Jake, Now that you're seeing how much of an impact 812 00:47:09,120 --> 00:47:12,279 Speaker 1: this has on Isabella, not only now, but might have 813 00:47:12,520 --> 00:47:19,719 Speaker 1: on her as she grows up, I'm wondering when Becka says, hey, 814 00:47:20,040 --> 00:47:22,120 Speaker 1: we could go to therapy, or you could do some 815 00:47:22,239 --> 00:47:26,560 Speaker 1: anger management, or even I don't know if we can 816 00:47:26,640 --> 00:47:29,239 Speaker 1: stay if this is going to go on, does like 817 00:47:29,239 --> 00:47:33,960 Speaker 1: all three things have happened? What do you think is 818 00:47:34,520 --> 00:47:38,080 Speaker 1: keeping you from doing something that might be helpful, not 819 00:47:38,280 --> 00:47:41,320 Speaker 1: just for the other people, but mostly for you? 820 00:47:44,480 --> 00:47:46,879 Speaker 4: Lazy? If I want to put in the work. 821 00:47:47,800 --> 00:47:51,360 Speaker 1: I don't think people are really lazy. I think that 822 00:47:51,440 --> 00:47:54,560 Speaker 1: people avoid things and then they look like they're lazy. 823 00:47:54,960 --> 00:47:57,640 Speaker 1: So I'm gonna say it a different way. Why are 824 00:47:57,680 --> 00:48:01,840 Speaker 1: you avoiding dealing with this given how high the stakes 825 00:48:01,880 --> 00:48:03,720 Speaker 1: are and how. 826 00:48:03,640 --> 00:48:05,120 Speaker 2: Long you've been dealing with it. 827 00:48:07,680 --> 00:48:10,360 Speaker 4: I keep telling myself that I can fix it myself, 828 00:48:10,880 --> 00:48:11,600 Speaker 4: but you know that. 829 00:48:11,719 --> 00:48:16,080 Speaker 1: That's not been the case. So that's again a way 830 00:48:16,120 --> 00:48:18,720 Speaker 1: that we avoid as we lie to ourselves. It's really 831 00:48:18,840 --> 00:48:21,759 Speaker 1: easy to tell ourselves what we want to hear, so 832 00:48:21,920 --> 00:48:24,560 Speaker 1: we can avoid doing the thing that we need to do. 833 00:48:25,880 --> 00:48:29,080 Speaker 1: I have a theory about why you might be avoiding this, 834 00:48:31,080 --> 00:48:33,400 Speaker 1: and that's because of that conflict we were talking about 835 00:48:33,440 --> 00:48:36,120 Speaker 1: earlier between the part of you that feels ripped off 836 00:48:36,160 --> 00:48:39,000 Speaker 1: and the part of you that wants to be a 837 00:48:39,080 --> 00:48:44,960 Speaker 1: part of this family. And I think that there's a 838 00:48:45,040 --> 00:48:49,680 Speaker 1: part of you that isn't even in your awareness, that 839 00:48:49,880 --> 00:48:55,360 Speaker 1: feels like if I go deal with this, then I 840 00:48:55,480 --> 00:48:58,279 Speaker 1: am giving in to this life, and I don't get 841 00:48:58,320 --> 00:49:00,200 Speaker 1: to hold on to any part of that other life life. 842 00:49:02,120 --> 00:49:05,400 Speaker 1: At least when I'm acting out, that part of my 843 00:49:05,560 --> 00:49:12,239 Speaker 1: life is alive, and I want to suggest that there 844 00:49:12,320 --> 00:49:15,840 Speaker 1: might be other ways to keep that other part of 845 00:49:15,920 --> 00:49:21,239 Speaker 1: your life alive and also do things in your life 846 00:49:22,560 --> 00:49:25,080 Speaker 1: that might give you more balance. 847 00:49:26,320 --> 00:49:30,759 Speaker 4: I know within the next few months things are going 848 00:49:30,800 --> 00:49:33,160 Speaker 4: to get significantly better. We get to move back home 849 00:49:33,360 --> 00:49:36,319 Speaker 4: with all of our friends and family. Where we are 850 00:49:36,440 --> 00:49:39,919 Speaker 4: now we have no support systems. We'll have grandparents only 851 00:49:40,040 --> 00:49:43,560 Speaker 4: fifteen minutes away instead of two hours away, friends only 852 00:49:43,680 --> 00:49:49,200 Speaker 4: five ten minutes away instead two hours away. And I 853 00:49:49,320 --> 00:49:55,120 Speaker 4: already know the job I'm now. I am resigning from 854 00:49:55,160 --> 00:49:59,400 Speaker 4: this position because it's just not healthy having our friends 855 00:49:59,480 --> 00:50:02,200 Speaker 4: and family and going back to the job that I 856 00:50:02,680 --> 00:50:06,200 Speaker 4: enjoyed doing a lot of that will change. 857 00:50:06,400 --> 00:50:10,520 Speaker 2: It's definitely will And being without a support system is 858 00:50:11,000 --> 00:50:14,160 Speaker 2: specially difficult when you have two young kids and a newborn. 859 00:50:14,840 --> 00:50:17,920 Speaker 2: But Jake, I wanted to offer you another theory about 860 00:50:19,360 --> 00:50:22,640 Speaker 2: why you might not have sort help. 861 00:50:24,600 --> 00:50:24,719 Speaker 4: Well. 862 00:50:24,840 --> 00:50:27,880 Speaker 2: Number One, you did in the past, and it doesn't 863 00:50:27,920 --> 00:50:30,000 Speaker 2: sound like you walked out with a lot of tools 864 00:50:31,040 --> 00:50:34,160 Speaker 2: from that experience. And a lot of times when people 865 00:50:34,360 --> 00:50:38,960 Speaker 2: and especially men have issues with anger management, they think 866 00:50:39,320 --> 00:50:42,840 Speaker 2: that they just need to learn to hold it in better, 867 00:50:43,200 --> 00:50:46,440 Speaker 2: that they just need to get that better cork that 868 00:50:46,560 --> 00:50:49,399 Speaker 2: will stuff it in and then it won't come out. 869 00:50:49,920 --> 00:50:51,640 Speaker 2: And right now you don't know how to get a 870 00:50:51,719 --> 00:50:58,160 Speaker 2: better cork. It's very difficult to understand a nonlinear relationship 871 00:50:58,760 --> 00:51:03,760 Speaker 2: between talking about your feelings of frustration, loss of the bachelorhood. 872 00:51:04,120 --> 00:51:07,680 Speaker 2: How is that related to you know, me having the 873 00:51:07,800 --> 00:51:11,400 Speaker 2: temper or keeping it in about the water bottles or 874 00:51:11,440 --> 00:51:14,840 Speaker 2: the messes you know? And I think that part of 875 00:51:14,960 --> 00:51:18,200 Speaker 2: what makes you hesitate is you just don't understand or 876 00:51:18,400 --> 00:51:21,560 Speaker 2: know what possible tools can people give me that will 877 00:51:21,640 --> 00:51:25,200 Speaker 2: actually help me other than me just needing the willpower 878 00:51:25,280 --> 00:51:28,879 Speaker 2: to not explode. And I'm wondering if that's something that's 879 00:51:28,920 --> 00:51:31,600 Speaker 2: going on with you that you just don't quite know 880 00:51:32,080 --> 00:51:34,239 Speaker 2: what that help could even be, or that doesn't quite 881 00:51:34,280 --> 00:51:37,000 Speaker 2: make sense to you, And so it feels it will 882 00:51:37,080 --> 00:51:39,080 Speaker 2: just come down to me needing to not and I'm 883 00:51:39,160 --> 00:51:41,680 Speaker 2: trying to not anyway, So what else can I do? 884 00:51:42,640 --> 00:51:48,760 Speaker 4: Yeah, I can definitely relate with that, especially the core scenario. 885 00:51:49,920 --> 00:51:52,000 Speaker 4: That's how I feel like I just need to try 886 00:51:52,080 --> 00:51:55,279 Speaker 4: harder to suppress the anger back up. 887 00:51:55,480 --> 00:52:00,920 Speaker 1: You've talked about thinking you don't know how long you 888 00:52:01,040 --> 00:52:06,000 Speaker 1: can keep going in this situation. Where are you with 889 00:52:06,120 --> 00:52:06,680 Speaker 1: that right now? 890 00:52:10,560 --> 00:52:14,200 Speaker 3: I feel conflicted because I want to believe that, like 891 00:52:15,160 --> 00:52:20,440 Speaker 3: once we move back and there's more balance, that everything 892 00:52:20,480 --> 00:52:26,160 Speaker 3: will get better. But I feel this like ambivalence because 893 00:52:26,480 --> 00:52:29,320 Speaker 3: for me, I want to stay with Jake and I 894 00:52:29,360 --> 00:52:32,800 Speaker 3: want us to be a family and be together forever, 895 00:52:33,960 --> 00:52:40,360 Speaker 3: and I'm happy, But then as a mother seeing the 896 00:52:40,440 --> 00:52:44,439 Speaker 3: impact that it has on Isabella, it makes me feel 897 00:52:44,520 --> 00:52:48,880 Speaker 3: like to do what's best for her in the times 898 00:52:49,000 --> 00:52:52,239 Speaker 3: when the anger does get pretty bad that it'd be 899 00:52:52,360 --> 00:52:55,960 Speaker 3: better if, like Jake was just like a part time parent. 900 00:52:58,520 --> 00:53:01,040 Speaker 3: And I feel like those two parts of me fight 901 00:53:01,160 --> 00:53:01,439 Speaker 3: a lot. 902 00:53:03,040 --> 00:53:07,600 Speaker 1: Can I ask you, Jake, if we flashed forward several decades, 903 00:53:09,840 --> 00:53:16,359 Speaker 1: Isabella and Dean are really struggling in their lives. They're 904 00:53:16,360 --> 00:53:20,000 Speaker 1: struggling with how they feel about themselves. They're struggling and 905 00:53:20,040 --> 00:53:25,120 Speaker 1: then their friendships and they're romantic relationships. They may be 906 00:53:25,680 --> 00:53:31,680 Speaker 1: numbing themselves with certain things like drugs or alcohol. Maybe 907 00:53:31,800 --> 00:53:39,400 Speaker 1: they are able to tell you you hurt us constantly 908 00:53:39,960 --> 00:53:42,480 Speaker 1: when we were growing up. How would you feel about 909 00:53:42,920 --> 00:53:46,680 Speaker 1: your life choices several decades on that were the case. 910 00:53:48,400 --> 00:53:48,800 Speaker 4: Horrible? 911 00:53:49,880 --> 00:53:52,000 Speaker 1: Do you understand that that's the potential path you're on? 912 00:53:53,840 --> 00:53:54,319 Speaker 4: I do now. 913 00:54:00,000 --> 00:54:03,239 Speaker 2: So, Becca and Jake, we have some advice for you, 914 00:54:03,360 --> 00:54:07,279 Speaker 2: and it's in several parts. Part one is this. There's 915 00:54:07,320 --> 00:54:11,960 Speaker 2: this wonderful tool that we love called the feelings Wheel 916 00:54:12,160 --> 00:54:14,840 Speaker 2: or the emotions Wheel, and it's just that it's a 917 00:54:15,239 --> 00:54:19,160 Speaker 2: wheel with a lot of different emotions on it. We'd 918 00:54:19,280 --> 00:54:21,200 Speaker 2: like you to print one out. They're very easy to 919 00:54:21,280 --> 00:54:24,520 Speaker 2: find online, and we'd like you every evening when you 920 00:54:24,680 --> 00:54:27,560 Speaker 2: have literally five minutes each of you take turns. Jake 921 00:54:27,600 --> 00:54:30,520 Speaker 2: would like you to start and just talk about your 922 00:54:30,600 --> 00:54:35,160 Speaker 2: day and name at least five feelings that correspond to 923 00:54:35,760 --> 00:54:39,200 Speaker 2: your narrative. You don't have to know them ahead of time. 924 00:54:39,239 --> 00:54:40,960 Speaker 2: You just look at the wheel when you know what 925 00:54:41,080 --> 00:54:43,400 Speaker 2: you're feeling inside but you can't articulate it. You look 926 00:54:43,440 --> 00:54:46,560 Speaker 2: at the wheel, and just when I gave you multiple shows, 927 00:54:46,600 --> 00:54:48,719 Speaker 2: you said, yes, this one, Yes, this one, that's how 928 00:54:48,760 --> 00:54:50,879 Speaker 2: the wheel functions. You look at it and go, oh, right, 929 00:54:50,960 --> 00:54:53,279 Speaker 2: it's this. But would like you every day to have 930 00:54:53,400 --> 00:54:55,920 Speaker 2: five minutes where each of you just talk about each 931 00:54:55,960 --> 00:55:00,600 Speaker 2: other's days, using and naming your feelings. So that's the 932 00:55:00,719 --> 00:55:04,520 Speaker 2: first one. The second assignment we gaveing you is, Jake, 933 00:55:05,040 --> 00:55:10,280 Speaker 2: we want you to google two articles about the effects 934 00:55:10,320 --> 00:55:14,920 Speaker 2: of yelling at your kids and find it from reputable 935 00:55:15,239 --> 00:55:18,719 Speaker 2: sources the Mayo Clinic, WebMD, and we'd like you to 936 00:55:18,760 --> 00:55:21,600 Speaker 2: read just a couple of short articles and then tell 937 00:55:21,680 --> 00:55:24,000 Speaker 2: Becca what you've learned from them, so that you can 938 00:55:24,040 --> 00:55:27,400 Speaker 2: have a conversation and have discussions about the impact of 939 00:55:27,520 --> 00:55:29,920 Speaker 2: yelling at your kids. So that's not something you're ignoring 940 00:55:30,000 --> 00:55:33,040 Speaker 2: that you're really talking about as you're trying to control 941 00:55:33,080 --> 00:55:35,400 Speaker 2: the anger. What is the impact of yelling at your 942 00:55:35,480 --> 00:55:40,480 Speaker 2: kids at young ages, and we think. 943 00:55:40,360 --> 00:55:43,839 Speaker 1: That that'll give you a good foundation for the next exercise, 944 00:55:44,960 --> 00:55:48,520 Speaker 1: which is that Becca, we would like you to write 945 00:55:48,560 --> 00:55:52,439 Speaker 1: a letter, as if it's decades in the future, from 946 00:55:53,040 --> 00:56:00,920 Speaker 1: Isabella and Dean to Jake about what their lives are 947 00:56:01,120 --> 00:56:05,480 Speaker 1: like and what the effect of this yelling has had 948 00:56:05,560 --> 00:56:07,719 Speaker 1: on them if it continues the way that it does, 949 00:56:07,800 --> 00:56:09,560 Speaker 1: and we're going to imagine for this letter that it did. 950 00:56:11,600 --> 00:56:16,000 Speaker 1: And please don't try to protect his feelings, because Isabella 951 00:56:16,080 --> 00:56:20,240 Speaker 1: and Dean will not try to protect his feelings. Kids 952 00:56:20,440 --> 00:56:26,239 Speaker 1: who are yelled at will be very clear, usually later 953 00:56:26,360 --> 00:56:29,640 Speaker 1: in life, about the impact that it had on them. 954 00:56:30,600 --> 00:56:32,120 Speaker 1: And Jake, what we would like you to do is 955 00:56:32,120 --> 00:56:35,200 Speaker 1: write a letter back when you get that letter to 956 00:56:35,440 --> 00:56:40,759 Speaker 1: your children who are now adults, about what you wish 957 00:56:40,840 --> 00:56:45,319 Speaker 1: you had done differently, if indeed you do, and really 958 00:56:45,960 --> 00:56:48,480 Speaker 1: be open and honest, just as open and honest as 959 00:56:48,520 --> 00:56:52,320 Speaker 1: you were with Becca in the conversation today about other feelings. 960 00:56:53,800 --> 00:56:55,480 Speaker 1: We want you to be really open and honest with 961 00:56:55,560 --> 00:56:58,759 Speaker 1: them about how it feels to you, knowing that this 962 00:56:59,000 --> 00:57:03,600 Speaker 1: is how they feel as adults. Given that the yelling 963 00:57:03,680 --> 00:57:06,719 Speaker 1: didn't stop and the good news about this is it's 964 00:57:06,840 --> 00:57:10,200 Speaker 1: not actually happening in the future. You have a chance 965 00:57:10,320 --> 00:57:17,080 Speaker 1: to do things differently should you so choose. And the 966 00:57:18,520 --> 00:57:23,640 Speaker 1: last part is that we would like you to learn 967 00:57:23,720 --> 00:57:29,240 Speaker 1: a little bit more about anger management because it sounds 968 00:57:29,360 --> 00:57:32,120 Speaker 1: like you don't really have tools that have worked for you. 969 00:57:33,040 --> 00:57:37,640 Speaker 1: So we would like you to join an anger management group. 970 00:57:37,800 --> 00:57:40,360 Speaker 1: And I know that your time is limited, so there 971 00:57:40,360 --> 00:57:43,160 Speaker 1: are also lots of online options where you can just 972 00:57:43,280 --> 00:57:45,600 Speaker 1: zoom into the group, and we would like you to 973 00:57:45,640 --> 00:57:47,960 Speaker 1: give it a try to see what it's like to 974 00:57:48,640 --> 00:57:52,480 Speaker 1: hear other people talk about their experiences, because you're definitely 975 00:57:52,520 --> 00:57:55,640 Speaker 1: not alone in this. Lots of people had modeling where 976 00:57:55,760 --> 00:57:58,680 Speaker 1: they didn't know there was another way to manage their feelings, 977 00:57:58,760 --> 00:58:01,440 Speaker 1: and often they couldn't I identify their feelings, which is 978 00:58:01,520 --> 00:58:05,600 Speaker 1: something that you noticed in our conversation today that sometimes, 979 00:58:06,040 --> 00:58:09,320 Speaker 1: like I said, you just don't know what the words 980 00:58:09,320 --> 00:58:12,520 Speaker 1: are for the feelings. And the one thing that's really 981 00:58:12,600 --> 00:58:15,440 Speaker 1: easy to access is anger. So if we can get 982 00:58:15,520 --> 00:58:20,840 Speaker 1: underneath that, you might be able to have some tools 983 00:58:20,880 --> 00:58:23,000 Speaker 1: that will be helpful for you and maybe that'll help 984 00:58:23,040 --> 00:58:25,560 Speaker 1: you take away some of the shame around it, realize 985 00:58:25,600 --> 00:58:28,600 Speaker 1: you're not alone, and then get some really good information 986 00:58:28,680 --> 00:58:30,480 Speaker 1: about what might be helpful. 987 00:58:32,920 --> 00:58:35,840 Speaker 4: Okay, thank you, Marian guy. 988 00:58:42,920 --> 00:58:45,280 Speaker 1: Some couples can't do what they did, which is talk 989 00:58:45,360 --> 00:58:49,600 Speaker 1: about something that's really difficult and then still stay connected. 990 00:58:50,200 --> 00:58:53,720 Speaker 1: And they were still holding hands even when some of 991 00:58:53,760 --> 00:58:59,080 Speaker 1: the content was difficult to hear. They stay present for 992 00:58:59,240 --> 00:59:02,280 Speaker 1: each other. And I think the challenge for Jake is 993 00:59:02,920 --> 00:59:08,840 Speaker 1: really the dissociating that he does. He knows intellectually that 994 00:59:08,960 --> 00:59:12,160 Speaker 1: what he's doing is damaging to his children, and then 995 00:59:12,240 --> 00:59:16,000 Speaker 1: he comes up with all kinds of reasons why it's 996 00:59:16,080 --> 00:59:18,680 Speaker 1: not a priority for him. And I think that when 997 00:59:18,720 --> 00:59:20,760 Speaker 1: he gets more in touch with his feelings, and I 998 00:59:20,840 --> 00:59:24,760 Speaker 1: think really not being able to avoid what the future 999 00:59:24,840 --> 00:59:27,240 Speaker 1: might look like. Because when I brought that up at 1000 00:59:27,280 --> 00:59:30,680 Speaker 1: the end, he finally said, yeah, I get it. We 1001 00:59:30,760 --> 00:59:32,680 Speaker 1: don't know if he really gets it, but it was 1002 00:59:32,720 --> 00:59:34,320 Speaker 1: the first time that he acknowledged that. 1003 00:59:34,360 --> 00:59:35,320 Speaker 4: He does right. 1004 00:59:35,400 --> 00:59:38,280 Speaker 2: And I also agree that he kind of knows intellectually 1005 00:59:38,360 --> 00:59:40,000 Speaker 2: that it's a problem. But that's why we gave in 1006 00:59:40,120 --> 00:59:43,120 Speaker 2: that research assignment, because he really needs to be clear 1007 00:59:43,240 --> 00:59:45,880 Speaker 2: that it is a problem. It's not a maybe, it's 1008 00:59:45,920 --> 00:59:48,080 Speaker 2: not a oh, you know, I was okay somehow. 1009 00:59:48,480 --> 00:59:51,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's not just the tone when we talk to 1010 00:59:51,080 --> 00:59:53,680 Speaker 1: our kids, is the content as well, and he was 1011 00:59:53,720 --> 00:59:55,400 Speaker 1: saying that he says what the f to her, and 1012 00:59:55,480 --> 00:59:57,560 Speaker 1: as parents we all have times when it wasn't our 1013 00:59:57,640 --> 01:00:01,480 Speaker 1: finest parenting moment. When it's consistent in the way that 1014 01:00:01,520 --> 01:00:05,280 Speaker 1: they're describing, it's really important for him to understand the 1015 01:00:05,360 --> 01:00:07,800 Speaker 1: effect that it's going to have on his children, and 1016 01:00:07,920 --> 01:00:09,520 Speaker 1: that it is having on his children. 1017 01:00:15,000 --> 01:00:18,080 Speaker 2: You're listening to dea therapists. We'll be back after a 1018 01:00:18,160 --> 01:00:18,680 Speaker 2: short break. 1019 01:00:30,680 --> 01:00:32,520 Speaker 1: So, guy, we heard from Becca and Jake, and I'll 1020 01:00:32,560 --> 01:00:35,000 Speaker 1: be curious to hear how that went for them. 1021 01:00:36,280 --> 01:00:38,640 Speaker 3: Hey Louri, Hey guy, this is Beca and Jake. 1022 01:00:38,880 --> 01:00:39,120 Speaker 4: Hello. 1023 01:00:40,160 --> 01:00:42,440 Speaker 3: We're getting back in touch. Just to update you on 1024 01:00:42,680 --> 01:00:45,080 Speaker 3: the assignments you gave us last week for. 1025 01:00:45,200 --> 01:00:48,760 Speaker 4: The feelings chart. We went over that every night and 1026 01:00:49,200 --> 01:00:51,720 Speaker 4: I feel like it sparked a lot of good conversations. 1027 01:00:53,480 --> 01:00:57,040 Speaker 3: Yeah, I feel like it added some depth to our conversations, 1028 01:00:57,440 --> 01:01:00,320 Speaker 3: and I did notice that Jake just kind of in 1029 01:01:00,360 --> 01:01:04,280 Speaker 3: normal day to day conversations talked more about feelings, especially 1030 01:01:04,320 --> 01:01:07,360 Speaker 3: other than just anger and frustration. So I can already 1031 01:01:07,360 --> 01:01:11,240 Speaker 3: see that paying off for the second one, which was 1032 01:01:11,320 --> 01:01:13,600 Speaker 3: looking up the effects of yelling, but I feel like 1033 01:01:14,440 --> 01:01:17,440 Speaker 3: Jake it was difficult for him to confront that. I 1034 01:01:17,480 --> 01:01:19,360 Speaker 3: felt like he avoided it most of the week and 1035 01:01:19,640 --> 01:01:22,480 Speaker 3: it lead to some nagging on my end. He handed 1036 01:01:22,600 --> 01:01:27,160 Speaker 3: up finding a really good series on YouTube that talked 1037 01:01:27,160 --> 01:01:30,040 Speaker 3: about it, and I think it really piqued his interest 1038 01:01:30,160 --> 01:01:32,400 Speaker 3: to keep looking for more. So he suggested doing this 1039 01:01:32,560 --> 01:01:35,840 Speaker 3: five day stop Yelling at your Kid's parenting challenge. So 1040 01:01:35,880 --> 01:01:41,040 Speaker 3: we're starting that feeling optimistic about that. For the next assignment, 1041 01:01:41,280 --> 01:01:45,920 Speaker 3: where I was writing the letter from Isabella and Dean's perspective, 1042 01:01:46,680 --> 01:01:50,280 Speaker 3: it was challenging because there were so many different effects 1043 01:01:51,120 --> 01:01:54,440 Speaker 3: that the yelling can have, so kind of encompassing everything 1044 01:01:54,480 --> 01:01:57,840 Speaker 3: in that was a little difficult. So I did send 1045 01:01:57,880 --> 01:02:02,200 Speaker 3: that over to Jake, and I think it was tough 1046 01:02:02,280 --> 01:02:04,920 Speaker 3: for him to read and might not have been the 1047 01:02:05,000 --> 01:02:08,280 Speaker 3: most impactful, Like I wonder if he needs something a 1048 01:02:08,320 --> 01:02:10,360 Speaker 3: little more concrete and tangible. 1049 01:02:11,480 --> 01:02:14,280 Speaker 4: It was difficult for me to put myself in the 1050 01:02:14,480 --> 01:02:19,400 Speaker 4: headspace of pretending to be in the future and it 1051 01:02:19,440 --> 01:02:23,680 Speaker 4: didn't really resonate for me. As for the anger management classes, 1052 01:02:23,920 --> 01:02:27,320 Speaker 4: I'm not quite ready to jump into that yet, and 1053 01:02:27,440 --> 01:02:31,280 Speaker 4: I know I need to find coping mechanisms, which led 1054 01:02:31,360 --> 01:02:36,640 Speaker 4: me to a YouTube channel, so I'm going to start 1055 01:02:36,720 --> 01:02:38,360 Speaker 4: there and see how that works for me. 1056 01:02:40,480 --> 01:02:43,520 Speaker 3: Overall, this has created some moments of conflict and a 1057 01:02:43,560 --> 01:02:47,160 Speaker 3: relationship that weren't there before, but I feel like it's 1058 01:02:47,440 --> 01:02:50,520 Speaker 3: definitely an area where we can grow, and the couple 1059 01:02:50,600 --> 01:02:53,400 Speaker 3: of things that have happened since then, it's really helped 1060 01:02:53,440 --> 01:02:56,000 Speaker 3: me be more empathetic to see where Jake's coming from 1061 01:02:56,080 --> 01:02:59,000 Speaker 3: and where his mind might be at because I have 1062 01:02:59,080 --> 01:03:03,520 Speaker 3: a better idea now. One of the quotes that really 1063 01:03:03,600 --> 01:03:05,920 Speaker 3: stuck out to us in the parenting resource we were 1064 01:03:06,000 --> 01:03:10,040 Speaker 3: looking at was by Maya Angelo, and it goes, do 1065 01:03:10,160 --> 01:03:12,760 Speaker 3: the best you can until you know better, than when 1066 01:03:12,800 --> 01:03:15,560 Speaker 3: you know better, do better. So I feel like at 1067 01:03:15,600 --> 01:03:17,920 Speaker 3: this point we're just getting to a place where we're 1068 01:03:17,920 --> 01:03:21,439 Speaker 3: building our knowledge and hopefully that'll lead to doing better 1069 01:03:21,520 --> 01:03:25,480 Speaker 3: in the future. Thank you again for all of your 1070 01:03:25,560 --> 01:03:28,400 Speaker 3: help and for taking the time to work with us 1071 01:03:28,440 --> 01:03:28,640 Speaker 3: on this. 1072 01:03:28,960 --> 01:03:34,600 Speaker 4: Thank you bye well. 1073 01:03:34,640 --> 01:03:39,200 Speaker 2: That reinforced a feeling I had during the session that 1074 01:03:40,240 --> 01:03:44,480 Speaker 2: Jake was really starting from square one when it came 1075 01:03:44,560 --> 01:03:48,120 Speaker 2: to this understanding of how yelling at the kids can 1076 01:03:48,200 --> 01:03:51,560 Speaker 2: impact them, how his being in touch with his own 1077 01:03:51,600 --> 01:03:54,720 Speaker 2: emotions or being able to express them or not is 1078 01:03:54,760 --> 01:03:58,600 Speaker 2: impacting him. He really didn't see that connection at all, 1079 01:03:58,920 --> 01:04:01,720 Speaker 2: and now he's odd thing to create some kind of 1080 01:04:01,800 --> 01:04:05,040 Speaker 2: connective tissue in his mind between these things, primarily by 1081 01:04:05,160 --> 01:04:10,200 Speaker 2: using the feelings shot. But I am a little disappointed 1082 01:04:10,280 --> 01:04:13,600 Speaker 2: that he didn't take more ownership of the anger and 1083 01:04:14,240 --> 01:04:16,919 Speaker 2: take more ownership of some of these tasks and really 1084 01:04:17,080 --> 01:04:17,480 Speaker 2: dive in. 1085 01:04:18,560 --> 01:04:22,040 Speaker 1: I think when we do these sessions, we want to 1086 01:04:22,600 --> 01:04:26,439 Speaker 1: hold the hope for their growth, and at the same 1087 01:04:26,600 --> 01:04:31,560 Speaker 1: time it can be disappointing. And I think in this case, 1088 01:04:31,600 --> 01:04:36,160 Speaker 1: when other people are affected, like children, it's really hard 1089 01:04:36,520 --> 01:04:40,720 Speaker 1: to have patience for the change to happen because you 1090 01:04:40,920 --> 01:04:43,439 Speaker 1: know that as this is going on, this is really 1091 01:04:43,520 --> 01:04:48,000 Speaker 1: affecting the children. And I think Becca is perhaps in 1092 01:04:48,040 --> 01:04:51,120 Speaker 1: a little bit of denial too, because she said this 1093 01:04:51,280 --> 01:04:54,160 Speaker 1: week brought up some conflict between them that she didn't 1094 01:04:54,240 --> 01:04:57,960 Speaker 1: know was there, and yet it seemed like it had 1095 01:04:58,000 --> 01:05:00,920 Speaker 1: been there or she wouldn't have written that letter to us. 1096 01:05:01,680 --> 01:05:03,920 Speaker 1: And I noticed too that she did most of the 1097 01:05:04,080 --> 01:05:07,800 Speaker 1: talking for Jake, and so it seemed like she was 1098 01:05:07,880 --> 01:05:12,120 Speaker 1: sort of driving this and hoping that something would change, 1099 01:05:12,360 --> 01:05:14,040 Speaker 1: but it's really going to have to come from a 1100 01:05:14,120 --> 01:05:18,160 Speaker 1: place of Jake wanting to change. And there's something going 1101 01:05:18,200 --> 01:05:21,520 Speaker 1: on with Jake where he's sort of compartmentalizing things where 1102 01:05:21,520 --> 01:05:23,440 Speaker 1: he said I couldn't really get into the space of 1103 01:05:23,520 --> 01:05:26,560 Speaker 1: that letter from the future. He's always got a reason 1104 01:05:27,200 --> 01:05:30,280 Speaker 1: that something isn't going to work in terms of helping 1105 01:05:30,360 --> 01:05:34,640 Speaker 1: him to grow and change in this area. And I 1106 01:05:34,760 --> 01:05:37,480 Speaker 1: noticed too that they sometimes laugh through this, and I 1107 01:05:37,560 --> 01:05:40,320 Speaker 1: know it's uncomfortable laughter, but it feels like something is 1108 01:05:40,400 --> 01:05:42,680 Speaker 1: going to need to happen, not just with Jake but 1109 01:05:42,760 --> 01:05:44,920 Speaker 1: also with Becca where they're really going to have to 1110 01:05:45,000 --> 01:05:48,440 Speaker 1: have a reckoning around this behavior has to stop and 1111 01:05:48,560 --> 01:05:50,480 Speaker 1: what are we going to do because I don't think 1112 01:05:50,520 --> 01:05:52,880 Speaker 1: that they're really acting with the urgency that this deserves. 1113 01:05:54,000 --> 01:05:56,600 Speaker 2: I agree, But I also think, because I said that 1114 01:05:56,720 --> 01:05:58,920 Speaker 2: he's starting from such an early point that if he 1115 01:05:59,040 --> 01:06:01,560 Speaker 2: woms up to it, if he gets interested in these 1116 01:06:02,040 --> 01:06:05,600 Speaker 2: YouTube videos that he's watching, that a curiosity can build 1117 01:06:05,720 --> 01:06:08,840 Speaker 2: that might get him there, But that will depend on 1118 01:06:09,080 --> 01:06:11,640 Speaker 2: him doing it independently and really owning it at some point, 1119 01:06:11,800 --> 01:06:13,200 Speaker 2: rather than Becca just pushing him. 1120 01:06:13,880 --> 01:06:15,880 Speaker 1: And I think the other pieces that when we're seeing 1121 01:06:15,920 --> 01:06:19,920 Speaker 1: a couple, it's generally two people have an issue, So 1122 01:06:20,120 --> 01:06:22,040 Speaker 1: it might look like one person has an issue, but 1123 01:06:22,200 --> 01:06:25,320 Speaker 1: somebody else is colluding with the issue, and here it's Becca. 1124 01:06:25,720 --> 01:06:29,400 Speaker 1: Becca really is afraid to take a stand, and while 1125 01:06:29,480 --> 01:06:32,040 Speaker 1: it's important that she have empathy for whatever he might 1126 01:06:32,160 --> 01:06:36,360 Speaker 1: be dealing with, she's not setting boundaries. And I think 1127 01:06:36,400 --> 01:06:40,040 Speaker 1: that it's really important for Becca to look into herself. Becca, 1128 01:06:40,080 --> 01:06:44,120 Speaker 1: if you're listening, to think about what boundaries you want 1129 01:06:44,200 --> 01:06:48,600 Speaker 1: to set for yourself, because it takes two to work 1130 01:06:48,680 --> 01:06:49,800 Speaker 1: on a problem like this. 1131 01:06:55,080 --> 01:06:57,600 Speaker 2: Next week we're going to check in with Nicole from 1132 01:06:57,680 --> 01:06:59,640 Speaker 2: season two to hear how she's doing. 1133 01:07:00,280 --> 01:07:04,520 Speaker 3: Later, she was basically saying, I can't be with him anymore. 1134 01:07:04,640 --> 01:07:07,080 Speaker 3: I don't even like him anymore. I don't think i'm 1135 01:07:07,080 --> 01:07:08,520 Speaker 3: in love with him. I don't even want to have 1136 01:07:08,600 --> 01:07:09,560 Speaker 3: sex with them anymore. 1137 01:07:10,560 --> 01:07:13,640 Speaker 1: If you're enjoying our podcast, don't forget to subscribe for 1138 01:07:13,760 --> 01:07:16,600 Speaker 1: free so that you don't miss any episodes, and please 1139 01:07:16,680 --> 01:07:19,320 Speaker 1: help support Dear Therapists by telling your friends about it 1140 01:07:19,560 --> 01:07:22,800 Speaker 1: and leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. Your reviews really 1141 01:07:22,880 --> 01:07:24,040 Speaker 1: help people to find the show. 1142 01:07:25,040 --> 01:07:27,200 Speaker 2: If you have a dilemma you'd like to discuss with us. 1143 01:07:27,560 --> 01:07:32,080 Speaker 2: Email us at Laurie and Guy at iHeartMedia dot com. 1144 01:07:32,760 --> 01:07:36,960 Speaker 2: Our executive producer is Noel Brown. We're produced and edited 1145 01:07:37,040 --> 01:07:41,680 Speaker 2: by Josh Fisher. Additional editing support by Helena Rosen, John 1146 01:07:41,880 --> 01:07:46,760 Speaker 2: Washington and Zachary Fisher. Our interns are Ben Bernstein, Emily 1147 01:07:46,840 --> 01:07:51,080 Speaker 2: Gutierrez and Silver Lifton. And special thanks to our podcast 1148 01:07:51,200 --> 01:07:54,440 Speaker 2: Fairy Godmother Katie Curic. You can't wait to see you 1149 01:07:54,520 --> 01:07:58,040 Speaker 2: at our next session. Deo Therapist is a production of 1150 01:07:58,120 --> 01:07:58,880 Speaker 2: iHeartRadio 1151 01:08:06,800 --> 01:08:07,479 Speaker 4: Fish Food