I can’t sleep, even with the lights off.
I turned off the lights and lay down, but I keep thinking about what my child said earlier. I wonder how much of the request got through to their dad.
After passing her child’s words on to their dad, a mother lies awake, trying not to let either voice slip away as her child brings it up again that night.
During an evening session, Yuna tells Cheongun that she passed along a request her child had made of his dad, and that the dad brushed it off in front of the child. Her child brings it up again before bed, and Yuna listens and makes room for his feelings, but can’t quite say all she wanted to about his dad’s response. Cheongun listens to both of them with equal care. That night, even after turning out the lights, Yuna lies there unable to say one more thing aloud.
When it’s hard to pass along a child’s words
When passing a child’s request to another parent, you can separate what was said from how they responded.
When you passed your child’s words on to their other parent, what part stayed with you the longest?
I passed along what my child said, but the moment it was brushed off in front of him stayed with me. I think it wasn’t just the child’s words being exchanged; it also showed what the two adults would say to each other in front of him. If you’re going through a similar night, you can start by telling me what happened that day.
Scenes
- 01 · A word at the table The evening his request was brushed aside — Minjae asked his dad to help him pack his school things for tomorrow. Without looking away from the drawing, Junho answered. Minjae: Dad, can you help me pack my school things for tomorrow? Junho: You can pack them yourself.
- 02 · Before bed The child asks again — Before the lights went out, Minjae brought up his dad’s answer again. Yuna sat beside the bed and looked at him. Minjae: Mom, Dad isn’t going to help me? Yuna: That’s been weighing on you.
- 03 · A conversation that keeps going After passing the words on — Yuna passed her child’s request on to his dad and described how it was brushed off in front of the child. She added that she had said something more herself. Yuna: Even as I passed it on, I said I hoped he’d just help him. Cheongun: After you said that too, what did Junho say?
- 04 · After the lights went out A night without an answer — With the lights off, Yuna lies there thinking about her child’s question and what she added herself. Her lips stay closed.
Stories by Cheongun
- Cheongun
- After the funeral, it’s hard to bring up what hurt me.
- When I write down what the child needs, where does my share go?
- When I bring up money with my family, I wake up before dawn.
- Before turning the calendar page
- When I bring up wanting time alone, my commute gets longer.
- On payday, Dad asked me to pass that along
- At the light, I think of what I want to say to my family.
- At lunch, I want to choose my child’s career path for them.