1st January
Hello Little John from New York
I am writing so express my gratitude for creating such a wonderful new website. There is so much helpful information on the site; it’s a fitting complement to the Growing Awareness group, which we stumbled upon several years ago. One can only hope a companion book is on the way.
I have one comment to make it is about the use of the prefix “Little.” Please know that my concerns are purely about a personal preference. When I hear the word “Little” I feel as though some judgment is being made even though I know of course that’s not at all the intention. However, I prefer that my mum, Gloria, refer to me as her “Buddy,” but you may also know me by my official name, “Inner Glow.” Mum created these names for me because she has always cringed at the sound of the word “Little.” She says it reminds her of all the miserable demeaning experiences she’s been through in life and says she doesn’t need any more help remembering them. There was no one there to “mother” or “father” us at any point.

Maybe it's because we are living in the land of the most skeptic, a/k/a New York City. No need to analyze it however, it is what it is. And nor do we begrudge any others the use of whatever name they choose for their partnerships with their selves. In fact, we celebrate any and all people who have the courage and curiosity to step out and acknowledge their “buddies.” Whatever we can do to help promote this cause…well, just ask.
As Gloria’s “Buddy,” I am her best friend but she would probably say something like I’m also her best enemy. But we are trying to work out the conflicts between us, although it seems to be taking up our whole lifetime.  Doing this work on our own is tough, especially because this kind of feeling stuff is not always the most appropriate conversational topic in our circles. 

Those Awareness groups you have every month in your area look mighty inviting to us. Are these only open to locals to join in or would it be ok if non-locals like us join in by telephone? 

Well, I am so glad that this website can give us some more direction in working out our conflicts.

Wishing you much success with the site and with your relationship to Big John,
Warmly,
 Gloria’s “Buddy” a/k/a “Inner Glow”, from New York City
1st January

Little John's reply..

It's great to hear from you "Buddy". You are so right, it does not matter what name your grown-up uses as long as it is the name that YOU are happy with because it feels right for you. I lived in a family where I was forced to "grow-up" too quickly. When I was being beaten by my father he insisted that I was not allowed to cry, that I had to "take my punishment like a man" (at 5 years old!!).  My Dad went off to the war in 1942 when I was 6 years old but before he left he told me that I was now "the man of the family" and that I was responsible for protecting my mother and my little sister while he was away. It got worse, when he came back from the war, I was 8 years old and expected to think and act (and work)  like a grown up all the time. So that's why I am so happy today being "Little John" because it reminds me that at last I can relax and be a kid and not have to pretend to be a big man any longer. It's great.

So you can see how my history, like yours, helps us choose the right name for each of us, as you have done. Have a look at the note below from Little Mighty Mike who got his grown-up to add the "mighty" bit to his name. That is a very important part of this website - it gives inner children a chance to talk about what they want from their grown-up.

I'm sorry that grown-up Gloria sometimes thinks she sees you as  her "enemy". As an Inner child myself I know you are not that way at all. But sometimes we carry so many bad memories and scars that our grown-up gets frightened in case they all come to the surface before he or she is ready to handle them. Grown-up John and I (and grown-up Gloria and some other friends) are working hard to find ways to make this part safer and easier.
Maybe you or some other Inner child who reads this can help with suggestions.

Monday 17 December 2007

Hello little john it's me again
We did some work with John recently on a situation where Grownup Gregory was going for a promotion at work. At least that’s what he thought! But during the interview Little Gregory (that's me) started worrying that if the promotion came through I would be copping too much extra responsibility in the new job. This has happened before, in fact all too often in the past. He sends me, out seeking more responsibility but then he and I both get terribly upset if I can’t get it right.

Grownup G was going really well in the interview until I stepped in at the end of the interview. Suddenly it appeared to the interviewing panel (who know nothing of the ways of  us inner children) that Grown-up G had lost his enthusiasm about getting the job, which was not the case, it was me. In a short time I had contradicted everything that Grownup Gregory had said about what a great job he could do in the position.  Needless to say, that's damaged Grownup Gregory's chance of getting the promotion. 
All day after that our Inner Critic then beat up me for what I had done, until by the next morning, I could hardly lift my head off the pillow, and didn’t know which way was up. 

Thank goodness Grown-up G rang John and did some work in which John honoured me, Little Gregory for my honesty, (because it was true that I did NOT want the extra responsibility that would go with the promotion). The Inner Critic let up straight away so that Grown Up G could get on with the demands of the day. 

Grown up G is starting to see more clearly how often I have been stepping up to the plate habitually to take responsibility for other people. The trouble is that Grown Up Gregory only realises this after I am being devastated by the attacks from our Inner Critic because I stuffed up. I want Grownup Gregory to become more aware so he can speed things up and step in before I grab the wheel’ as I have been doing for so long.

Little Gregory, Kyeegmah

Little John says..
Good on you Little Gregory. You are so clear about what is happening, it is amazing. The more your Grownup G can be aware the minute you start heading for the drivers seat, the more Grownup G can step in and remind you that what needs to be done is grownup’s work (especially a job Interview or a leadership position at work.)   Then you can take it easy and relax.

Hi Littlejohn,
I am Grown-up Jackie but I have a question for you.
My Inner child  'Little Jackie' has been feeling a very lonely and neglected lately.
I have tried in vain to cheer her up but she just sits there and looks sad all the time. 
How can I get her back to normal again and feeling safe and happy ?

I have tried putting her in her safe place and reassuring her that she's OK, but it's not working.
I thought that being an inner child yourself you might have some  suggestions on what to do ?

Grown-up Jackie (Gympie  Qld.)

Little John writes:
From the sound of it Little Jackie you are feeling very lonely, and even when you are in your magic 'safe' place (that your grown up Jackie created for you). You still feel alone . When I was feeling like that at first, Big John did something magic for me. He created two new characters my very own Magic Inner Mother and Magic Inner Father who live in the Safe Place with me! Now I never feel alone. I didn't feel that I had a real mother or real father when I was a kid. But these two characters are just so different, they look after me the way I had always wished loving parents would. So tell Grown-up Jackie you want her to create a couple of characters like that for you, Little Jackie.

Its quite easy really for a grown-up to do this. Big John has explains how on this website if you go to INNER_PARENT_PROCESS and also Inner_Mother_for_Little_John  and  Inner_Father_for Little John.

Little Jackie you might like to read these pages with her but it is very important that her Grown-up does the process for you, You must not try to do it  yourself because caring for you and helping you feel safe is definitely part of your grown-ups work.

Hi Little John this is sooooo coooool having a place to talk. Would you please let Big John know we (Big Michael and I) have given ME a new name. We got the idea from the other letters on the site.
I saw Little Mighty Marks name and knew I had to be known from now on as LITTLE MIGHTY MIKE, I LOVE IT  and I can’t keep the smile off my face. Hey Little John you are one lucky kid having such a cool dude like Big John there with you.
Since Big Michael met him my life has just got better and better. I am so lucky I have this great new safe place to live in now, Big Michael built it for me when he took me out of the old inner village (yuk I really didn’t like it there lots and lots of horrible people who weren’t nice to me ).
My new safe place is just like the forts from the wild west very strong and I have the best new family in here with me,  my new inner parents are way cool just like the ones I always dreamed about.
I am very proud of Big Michael to he is turning into a great adult the best thing is he takes care of stuff now and I get to play more. I LIKE THAT, hey can you tell Big John to remind Big Michael that I love to play with his two girls, he keeps forgetting.
Bye for now and thanks again Big John its great being able to talk to Little John :)
Little Mighty Mike
Coolum Beach QLD   
17/Nov/2007

Prrurrt! Little John.. This is  Sabian.. How are you. I hope you are not
weirded out talking to an inner kitten. I like you...you smell nice in what you
say. My friends here  are all OK. Wolf angel said I should say hi
myself.. So Here I am ..I don't know what to say, I always feel awkward 
the first time I meet someone even if it's a bunch of typing. But since
I have been able to speak to the people here things have gotten better
for all of us. Thanks Little John for what you say and thanks to everyone
else you live with too. They are cool cats too..
Talk later,  Sabian
Rrrowwrl ... purrrr..

Howdy Big and Little John, Good to hear from y'all, 
Dorsey (Austin, Texas-USA)

Dear littlejohn,
Thanks to you and Big john for the great new website! Great place to talk and let off some steam and get some answers I hope!
I would like to get some opinions from some other inner children out there pleeeeeease !
How come I feel so bad  about the way my parents treated me when I was a little girl?  Why were they never there for me ? Why were they always sooooooo busy to even see me sometimes ? I know that somehow it was my fault, but what was it that I didn’t do?
Does anybody else out there feel like this ?

I feel so lonely some times and I've felt like this for as long as I can remember.
Every time I get close to someone sooner or later I still feel lonely ?
Am I still looking for love from my parents ? Who by the way are no longer around!
Someone out there, let me know how you feel and if you have the same problem.
Any answers anyone ???

Little Lee     Sydney – NSW Australia