Chapter 3: Bad Boy

In chapter 2, it was nice to see the good memories David had with his family. In this chapter, there was a total turn for the worst. David describe mothers disciplinary action turned punishment and physically harming to David. Examining David’s description of mother’s mood and actions some might think she was majorly depressed, but her behaviour seemed to similar James’ case in Dr. Bruce Perry’s book The Boy Who was Raised as a Dog (2006).

James was adopted by before his first birthday, and at the age of six had been in the hospital and residential treatment several time for running away, jumping out of cars and jumping off a balcony. Dr. Perry and his team investigated further, and unravelled that James’ adopted mother was the one who caused James to be hospitalized several times. James’ mother was diagnosed with Munchausen by proxy. Dr. Perry explains Munchausen: “patient tries to make another person, usually a child, sick, in a similar ploy for attention and support” (2006. P.241).

David’s mother, just like James’ mother, came up with lies to explain David’s bruises and injuries. Mother even went as far as taking him to the hospital, and his cub den’s house to receive attention and support. Keep in mind, this syndrome is rare and hard to catch. Mother could be depressed, or David could be a baby from a traumatic event from mother experienced.

David named a few protective factors: When dad was home, mom kept away from David; going to school and being with friends; going into the corner of his room until mother went back to the couch to watch television; and making noise in the garage so mom would think he’s looking for whatever mother claimed she lost. These factors kept David from harm, and even developed an understanding that he can’t avoid being hurt, but he can make it hard for mother to severally hurt him by whine and screaming.  

Here is a video on child abuse:

This video link helps explain what are protective factors
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-T0_HWargU

Kevin Francis
3rd year Child and Youth Worker
Sheridan College

Chapter 2: Good TImes

We live in a 2 bedroom house in Daly City. Just my mom, dad, myself and my two brothers. From our living room window I can see the towers of the Golden Gate Bridge. Dad ( Stephen Joseph) is a firefighter he is 5 feet 10inches and weighs 190pds. Mom( Catherine roerva) is average size and appearance. I can't remember her eye color or hair color, but mom always ha this glow with love for her children. The most memorable thing about mom is her determination. I remember one day she said she wasn't feeling well and was laying down before dinner but after dinner went straight to the garage and started painting the stairs red. I remember hearing her cough from the fumes and before the paint was dry she tacked down the mats. I asked why she did that cause the paint wasn't dry and she replied she wanted to surprise father. She was an amazing cook. Always coming up with exotic meals and music to go along with it in the back ground. One day dad was working, and mom took us three to Chinatown and told us about the culture and the history. That night she put on Chinese music on the record player, hung Chinese lanterns in the dining room and made an exotic Chinese dinner. After dinner we all got a fortune cookie.
We had so many pets then: cats, dogs, and lots of fish. There was at least two fish tanks in every room. My favorite pet was the gopher tortoise because I got to name it and I named it Thor after my favorite cartoon character. One day the cat was acting very weird and mom sat us down and taught us about birth and the wonders of life.
The holidays always started at Halloween. I remember one Halloween running outside to look at the big Harvest moon ( or big pumpkin) in the sky. We all were In awe. Mom called us in and told us to go look under our pillows and there was new matchbox race cars for each of us. The day after thanksgiving mom would run downstairs to the basement and bring up all the Christmas decorations. She would put red candles on the dining room table and snow flakes on the windows. Our Christmas tree was never under 8 feet, and each year we took turns putting the angel on top. Dad would lift us up as high as he could. After the tree was done and dinner was finished we all piled into the car an went driving around looking at all the other houses decorated with lights and mom talked about her plans for next year, but we knew our house was alway the best. When we got home we would all sit by the fireplace and listen to Christmas stories while drinking eggnog and white Christmas playing in the back ground. On Christmas Eve we would be able to open one gift each. I was always too excited to sleep, trying to listen to the reindeer on the roof. Before dawn on Christmas morning mom woke us up saying Santa came. After opening our gifts we wore our new robes outside to look at the tree from the backyard. Mom started to cry and I asked her way and she said she was glad to have a real family.
Dad sometimes had to work 24 hour days so mom would take us on day trips to golden gate park and we would visit the aquarium last because it was out favorite place to go. When spring came around that meant picnics: fried chicken, salads, sandwiches and lots of dessert. Mom would prepare the night before. Her and dad would watch us play and have to pry us away to eat.
Summer time meant camping trips to portola or memorial park for a week in the big green rent but y favorite place to go was Russian river. My brothers and I would go climbing on old stumps, or swimming at Johnson's beach( that was an all day trip) that is where mom taught us all to swim. I remember holding hands and watching the sunset. Mom was holding me tightly and I have never felt so safe and warm as I did there in that moment at Russian river.

Caitlyn Hare
3rd year Child and Youth Worker
Sheridan College

Chapter 1: The Rescue

In this chapter the author, David Pelzer, starts a story about a child named David Pelzer (yes names the child his name), grade 5 and what seems to be the end of this child’s abusive and traumatic situation at home. David wore clothes, ate the same lunch, and was made fun of every day at school.

David grew up in in abusive home, lived with mother and brothers. David was worried about getting caught not washing the dishes for the moment his hands were out of the sink. David was caught by mother, and got slapped for because “[David] learned the hard way that she takes that as an act of defiance…” and David continue to think “…which means more hits, or worst of all, no food” (Pelzer, 1995. P.3). Robert V. Kail and Theresa Zolner (2012), talks about information-processing theory in their textbook Children: A Chronological Approach. “Information-processing theorist generally agree that mental hardware has three components: sensory memory, working memory, and long-term memory” (Kail & Zolner, 2012. P. 159).

To summarize: Sensory memory is taking “raw, unanalyzed” information and it is held for a few seconds. Working memory is when the brain is constantly processing information (such as reading this sentence) and storing and pulling out information. Long-term memory is memory this is stored information that is permanently stored in the brain, just like a computer. (Kail & Zolner, 2012. P. 159-160).

In the case of David, based on the situation at home, his sensory memory was limited. This is clear when the school nurse hugged David “‘God,’ I tell myself, ‘She is so warm.’ I don’t want to let go. I want to stay in her arms forever” (Pelzer, 1995. P. 7). This was an experience David felt rarely, due to mother did not cuddle much him as a baby, which mean the part of the brain that develop the understanding of love and affection was underdeveloped. Dr. Bruce Perry in his book The Boy Who was Raised as a Dog (2006), had a similar situation where a mother (Virginia) had a child (Laura), and live with a woman named Mama P, to understand how help Virginia learn to love Laura, so Laura can grow physical and mentally. Dr. Perry explains that there are two major neural networks: one is sensory perception and second is neural network that mediates “pleasure”. “This reward system” can be activated in a number of ways, one of which is the relief of distress” (P. 101). David “pleasure” or “reward system” sensory was much underdeveloped, which means when he was hugged by the nurse his brain was feeling, and experiencing something what normally would not be a new or unfamiliar to others.

David’s working memory, and long-term memory have been deep scared by the abuse at home, and constantly have to survive each day (e.g. dressing quickly, and eating fast). David talks about his he would eat his brothers left overs, steal lunch at school, and wear the same clothes every day. His thoughts in class are most likely not about what is being taught, but what he has to do to get something to eat. “Usually I’m a very good student, but for the past few months I gave on everything in my life, including escaping my misery through my schoolwork” (Pelzer, 1995. P. 8) Also another long-term memory that scared David, was when the school told him that they were going to call his mother. David started to cry. “‘Please!’ I whine, “Not today! Don’t you understand, it’s Friday?” (Pelzer, 1995. P. 8). David could be worried about a weekend of being hurt, and/or not eating.

The chapter ends with an officer calling David’s mother, and driving with David on the highway. The officer turns to David and tell him, “You’re free”. David then thinks “I’m free?” (P. 14).

David has been told he’s free. What would a grade 5 think when he’s told he’s free? 

Kevin Francis

3rd year Child and Youth Worker

Sheridan College 

References: 

Kail, R. & Zolner, Z. (2013). Children: a chronological approach (3rd ed.). Person Canada Inc.

Toronto, Ontario. ISBN: 978-0-13-706987-3 

            

 Perry, B. D. & Szalavitz, M. (2006). The boy who was raised as a dog and other stories from a

child psychiatrist’s notebook. New York, NY. eISBN: 978-0-786-72188-7

"Child Called It" By David Pelzer

We (Caitlyn Hare and Kevin Francis) will be reviewing the book Child Called It. We will be breaking down the book into chapters, sharing a summary and sharing how we feel about each chapter. Also we will be sharing theological view based on the evidence in the book, and the impact trauma as on a child's brain.

Both Caitlyn and I are 3rd year Child and Youth Worker (CYW) students studying at Sheridan College in Brampton, Canada. This is our assignment for our Working with Trauma and Abuse class. We hope other CYW/CYC students who are in the same position as us, can find here a good place for resources, theory development, and individual growth. Please challenge our thinking, share your thoughts and resources with us. Being a CYW/CYC is all about support one another.