Monologue 4: Mother and Child
Setting: A homeless shelter for women. A group of women and the drama therapist visit the MOMA in NYC. Diane is talking to the drama therapist who is pregnant. They are looking at the Mother and Child painting by Picasso
Character: Diane, 40’s, living with homelessness, mental illness and addiction, at a homeless shelter for women in Brooklyn, NY.
Diane:
For someone who lives in the city, you’re no good at the subway system, but that’s ok. We know what we’re doing. We’ll take care of you. And the baby too. Are you drinking milk? Better make sure you drink lots of milk. I had bad acid-reflux when I was pregnant. The milk is medicine, so drink that milk. What do they say on tv? The milk does the body good. It’s true. See that painting there? That woman is drinking some serious milk. Look how big she is. And the baby wants the milk too. Look at her going for her mama. Watch out, mama! She’s thirsty. This is nice though. I like this one. Who done it? Picasso? Oh yeah. I’ve heard of ‘em. That’s going to be you soon with your baby. Do you know if it’s a girl or boy? You don’t know? Well by the look of your backside it’s gonna be a boy. I’m right. Wait and see. Mine was a boy. He was a big boy like that one. He sure could eat. See how the baby looks at the mama in that painting? My boy did that, looked at me with those big eyes. Your baby will do that too, so you better make sure you keep it together because he be watching you. They watch everything you do. He’s gonna test your patience too, so you just keep it together and do the best you can. And you can sing to him too. Babies like that. I sang Itsy Bitsy Spider to Burt. Bugs, that was his nickname. I don’t know how he got that name, but it made him laugh so it stuck. (sings) Yeah, I like this picture. It’s nice. It’s got that love you can feel, you know? I bet she takes good care of that baby. She holds him and feeds him, changes his diapers, puts him to sleep. I couldn’t take good care of Bugs because of my situation, but I sure do love him. I sure do. I can help you when your baby comes. You come here and I’ll watch after him. I’ll give him a bottle and we can put in a crib. You probably want to keep him home, but some days you might need to bring him. There are days like that. So. Yeah. If that baby were to say something to his mother, what would he say? Hm. That’s a good question. “Gagga, goo, goo!” (laughs). He would say, “I love you, mama”.
Reflections:
In the quiet space of the museum, the Drama Therapist invites Diane to study Picasso’s painting Mother and Child. The physicality of standing side by side allows Diane to feel physically supported by the DT. With the focus on the painting, Diane is able to open up and share new aspects of herself. The DT uses this opportunity to learn more about Diane’s story and find ways to help her improve her circumstances. Through storytelling, the Mother and Child painting and the DT’s pregnancy, Diane was able to project, talk through and become the mother she wanted to be.
Projective Technique in Drama Therapy
As seen in the Up the Down Staircase monologue, Projective Technique in drama therapy is a way to offer distance from one’s feelings so that they can safely explore difficult issues and topics. In Diane’s case, Dramatic Projection was seen as she identified with the painting and shared aspects of herself and her son. Up until this point, Diane has not revealed information about losing her son to the Department of Children and Families. The painting became a safe and distanced way for Diane to share her experience without being overwhelmed by feelings.
Winnicott’s Holding Environment, Rupture and Repair
In The Theory of the Parent-Infant Relationship, the psychologist D Winnicott discusses the idea of Rupture and Repair as initially taking place in the holding environment between a mother and child (1961, Winnicott). He says that the mother’s ability to repair a moment with the child allows the two to form a deeper bond. For instance, the baby cries and the mother responds by yelling which is the rupture. The mother apologizes, soothes and kisses the baby, making them feel safe and calm which is the repair. Our ability to repair ruptures in interpersonal relationships allows us to form more meaningful relationships. Diane’s rupture was losing her son due to her mental illness and addiction. As Diane teaches the Drama Therapist how to be a good mother, Diane is repairing the way she mothered her son. As the DT listens and guides Diane with gentle prompting, Diane is practicing telling her story and rehearsing ways to repair her relationship with her son. Like the holding environment between mother and child, the Drama Therapist offers a holding environment by listening, offering intimacy and understanding and using the painting as a point of concentration and boundary for Diane to share in her own way and pace.
Drama Therapist as Therapeutic Tool
The pregnancy of the Drama Therapist became a projective technique or therapeutic tool to help navigate inner landscape and feelings. With clinical awareness, the DT uses her pregnancy to support Diane in repairing her experience as a mother. “Can you give me advice? What songs did you sing? How do you soothe the baby? What is the mother saying to the baby in the painting?”, are prompts that the DT uses to help Diane gain insight and grow. In many cases the DT will play a role that is in service of the client. In Diane’s case it was The Novice or New Mother, allowing Diane to give her mother advice and help navigate the NYC subway system.
Unlock the places that are holding you back from being your authentic self. Keyhole Therapeutic Arts offers a variety of expressive techniques, drama, art, music, movement, creative coaching, and one-on-one care to support you in your journey towards balance and harmony. One of the tools offered is the Keyhole Monologues which serves to show the different ways we use drama therapy to help clients. It serves as a design and reference to how you can use creativity to support and guide yourself or your loved one.
