It was a simple request that would not be unreasonable for a birthday party. A teen girl wanted balloons for the festivities, because that is something that everyone does, and it makes the occasion seem more normal and special.
However, balloons are not allowed in the StreetLight USA safehouse due to potential hazards of self-injury. The line between showering the girls with niceties that are meant to show love and care and normalcy, and that of being mindful of equally important needs for safety and proper boundaries can be a fine one. The caregivers for the residents have to make daily decisions that may seem to fly in the face of unconditional love for the girls.
Sometimes, this may feel like rejection for the survivors of sex trafficking, which may lead to an emotional firestorm, such as outbursts of anger, destructiveness, or withdrawal. How do the staff know where to draw the line, and how do they all stay on the same page so the rules are consistent?
As with any good parenting, healthy boundaries are necessary to help children develop crucial qualities that are building blocks for maturity.
- Understanding that not all wants are appropriate and necessary
- Learning to think beyond the current impulses to possible consequences of the actions
- Appropriately working with emotions of frustration and anger over not getting one’s way in all things
- Seeing life from the perspective of another and being able to respect that viewpoint
- Distinguishing between actions that are truly hurtful from another and those that don’t match my desires, and knowing appropriate responses to each
- Building a vocabulary for talking about emotions, needs, and wants that shows respect for self and others.
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