Here’s a story for children all about self-expression.
Children are born crying and things carry on from there! Babies express, just like the rest of us, with the awareness and knowledge that they’ve gained so far in life.
But it’s a tricky dance, to express oneself fully and in such a way that other people are willing to listen to us. Too loud? They might find us annoying, and switch off. Too quiet? They might not notice us.
Sadie, the main character in this story, starts off at the loud end of this spectrum. If she’s happy, she sings; if she’s sad, she cries; if she’s angry, she yells. And that’s just when she’s a baby!
Eventually Sadie quietens down, but not in a good way. Bullies at school shut her down until she barely speaks at all. And that’s when her problems really begin.
Sadie and the Monster tells the story of what happens when we repress our natural need to express ourselves: our inner world fights back! A monster comes to Sadie, speaking with the voice of the bullies at school who shut her down. Rising to the challenge, Sadie finds the power to make a different choice. She learns to express herself with consideration for her listeners; to be aware of how much people can take in, and also be curious about what’s going on for them.
By the end of the story, Sadie is back to being fully expressive of everything that’s going on inside her – but she’s learned a subtle art that many adults struggle to master. She finds the words and the strategies to express the fullness of her experience in ways that others can enjoy. This kind of expression is more accurately called sharing, and it is how our inner experience can be a gift for the people around us.
It’s sad that so many of us never learn this art. Fully expressing our inner life is a vital need. Failing to do so can mean that we can become a stranger not only to the people in our lives, but to ourselves. I hope this little children’s story plants a seed that reminds children of how much this matters.
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