Musings & Marginal Madness: The Parts of My Psyche

            There are three parts of my psyche:
            First, there is the adult part that is comprised of strong maternal instincts and a tendency to overcommit when helping others.  She feels the constant need to be doing something productive and fulfilling what she perceives as her adult responsibilities, despite the fact that she finds them quite challenging and often downright terrifying.
            Then there’s the teenager part of me.  She’s in her later teens; probably seventeen or eighteen—old enough to be relatively confident, and young enough to still think she knows a great deal more than she does.  She’s a strange combination of sarcasm and apathy, with a wide sadistic streak thrown in for good measure.  She’s introverted, and the only people she likes being around on a regular basis are small children.  (That’s not to say she doesn’t care for others, such as her parents and siblings and close friends.  She does.  She just finds most of them rather exhausting to be around for more than a short while.)  She also possesses Viking stubbornness and gets irritated quickly if anyone asks what her plans for the future are.
            Finally, there’s the small child inside of me.  Her time is equally divided between frolicking barefoot while picking wildflowers and climbing trees, or hiding under a snuggly blanket because the world is a terrifying place and she doesn’t want to deal with it.
            These three spend a great deal of time conversing (usually arguing if I’m being honest). The older two are the most vocal, both internally and externally.  Normally their interactions go something like this:
            Adult: We need to eat lunch. Hmm… What sounds good?
            Teen: Candy.
            Adult: That isn't meal material!
            Teen: So? It’s the only thing that sounds good.
            Adult: We need to eat healthily!
            Teen:  Isn’t it better to eat something of questionable nutritional value than to skip eating entirely?
            Adult: …
            Teen: You know I’m right.
            Adult: I know no such thing! Also, stop talking out loud! People are going to think we’re crazy.
            Teen: It’s not like it matters.  I’m pretty sure everyone already knows. Besides you’re talking out loud too.
            Adult:  It wouldn’t be as weird if only one of us was doing it!
            Teen: (Snorts) Right. Keep telling yourself that.
            Child: I want candy!
            Adult: (to teen) Look what you started!
            Teen: Sure, blame me.  You’re the one who started talking about edibles.
            Adult:  I’m trying to make sure we take care of our physical needs!
            Child: (to self) Edibles is a fun word. I like it. I wonder where it comes from?
            Teen: (to adult) Yes, you’re so responsible.  That’s why we never complete our to–do lists.
            Adult: That is because you distract us!
            Teen: You let yourself get distracted too easily.  Besides, it’s not like you actually want to do most of the stuff on those lists.
            Child: To–do lists are evil!  Unless they involve craft supplies, books, or sweets.
            Adult: (to child) But think about the feeling of accomplishment we get when we finish something on that list!  Isn’t that a nice feeling?  Don’t you like it?
            Teen: (Snorts) Good luck convincing her!
            Child: (sticks out tongue at teen) Stop treating me like a baby!
            Teen: Stop acting like a baby and maybe I will.
            Adult:  That is enough, both of you!  Now: lunch. What are we going to do about it?


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