Meet Spike, a ten year old terror
			Spike is out of control, angry and defiant
			Learn how to parent a kid like Spike
			Spike’s parents have struggled with him a long time
			Nothing has worked
			Out-of-home placements are a poor idea
			Spike’s parents are potentially more effective parents than they imagine
			Spike’s parents can learn what they need to learn to turn him around

 

Spike was created by Dr Andrew Gibson as a rhetorical device. He functions in somewhat the same way Pinocchio. Spike lies to his parents, among other things. . In fact, Spike tells about as many lies to his parents as his wooden friend with the long nose tells Ghepetto. The only
difference is that Spike’s nose stays put.

 

The story of Pinocchio is a story about the power of love to transform. The same can be said for Spike as it takes a parent who loves, even though it may only be a little bit of love and, then, a love that is felt only when Spike is asleep to make the kinds of changes that will transform Spike.

 

Spike exists to persuade parents and others that there is an alternative way of looking at emotionally disturbed, angry and /or out of control kids so that change can really happen. He does a pretty good job, too. You won’t be the same parent when you get through learning what Spike has for you.

 

 

We meet Spike at his mean best. He torments his younger sister. He disrespects his parents in public. He gets the school upset. There isn’t anyone in his life that Spike can’t push into fury.

 

What does he get out of all that effort? Rejection. Loneliness. Depression. More anger. He is locked in battle with his parents who haven’t the insight into Spike’s frame of mind sufficiently to see the whole game. Spike needs the fighting to justify his anger. His parents need the fighting, in return, to justify their disappointment.

 

Without the ability to see Spike and his parents engaged in combat it is less likely that his parents can take PACT seriously. They must see things with which they can identify. Spike permits that identification in as non-threatening a way as possible.

 

While there is nothing about Spike’s behavior that is an exaggeration, as a cartoon character he is able to portray out-of-control behavior in a way that can get past parental defenses about their own parenting style. That’s important because our fears and sensitivities about how we parent can be an impediment to understanding both ourselves and the potential for something new. After all, if we think we are about to be criticized about the thing that is the most import to us in the world, then it is likely that many will not be able to hear anything else.

 

Once you meet Spike it is unlikely you will forget him. That is, of course, the point. If you are entertained, maybe you will stick around to see what happens next.