Chapter 20 - Drew’s Therapy
Drew became obsessed with protecting Lily.
At seven, he packed snacks into her preschool bag.
Checked doors.
Told adults:
“She needs water.”
Corrected teachers.
Parentified.
A six-year-old who escaped carrying responsibility for a three-year-old does not automatically stop after rescue.
Dr. Amelia Brooks told me:
“Peter, he needs permission to be her brother, not her parent.”
I thought I had given that.
Apparently not enough.
At breakfast one morning Lily refused eggs.
Drew said:
“She has to eat.”
I answered:
“I’ll handle it.”
“But she didn’t eat.”
“I know.”
“She gets sick.”
“I know.”
He started crying.
I sat beside him.
“Drew.”
“What?”
“You got Lily out that day.”
He nodded.
“That was brave.”
He cried harder.
“Now adults feed her.”
He looked at me.
“Every day?”
“Every day.”
“What if you forget?”
“Then you can remind me once. You don’t have to make her eat.”
That became rule.
One reminder.
Then child again.
Slowly he stopped checking her plate.
Started complaining she stole his toys.
Healthy.
May you like
Sibling irritation is underrated recovery.
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