Sociological Analysis Of WASP Movie
In this assignment I am going to write about the film WASP (Andrea Arnold’s 2003,http://www.directorsnotes.com/2011/09/25/wasp-2/). Throughout my assignment, I will make reference to incidents within the movie, to plan how I will work with 11 year old Kelly, the eldest of the 4 children. I will give my view on the best course of action for her from my understanding as a FETAC Level 5 Applied social studies student with reference to Sigmund Freud and Bruno Bettelheim’s key ideas, beliefs and theories to help me with my work. I will also look at gender as an issue within the film.
From viewing the film WASP I get the feeling that Zoe became pregnant young and naively with little or no understanding of what it would entail, but from the footage of the estate I doubt this was uncommon. Zoe places a lot of responsibility on Kelly this is seen when she hands Kelly the sugar and tells her to share it out, when she tells Kelly to watch her younger siblings while she is in the pub but it is profoundly clear when she shakes and …show more content…
yells at Kelly for the wasp going into Kai 's mouth. Zoe has miss-placed emotions for her children, when she is fighting with “Bullethead” she yells “no one hits my kids and gets away with it”, she doesn 't seem to realize that her neglect for the basic needs is hurting them more. Zoe stands up for her children in the fight but then a few minutes later she denies that they are hers to David when he asked. At the pub scenes Zoe only seems bothered about herself and having good time while her children remains outside alone at night in a not very friendly looking area where anything could happen to them. The fact that Zoe has to buy the first round of drinks shows us both how poor she is and also how she places impressing David above her children by sacrificing their dinner which is their only meal of the day apart from sugar, just to get him what he wants. This is also shown when at closing time, instead of bringing her bored and hungry children home she gets into Davids car to be alone. It is clear that the dynamic of the family is very unstable and the line between mother and child is blurred.
I know that gaining access into the house will be one of the most difficult tasks as social workers wont be viewed very highly in the estate. They are seen as a threat between people who dislike each other “I 'll call social services”. I am well aware that Zoe will know that I am on my way so I don 't expect an answer to my first call but I will be persistent. I believe the best tactic I can use right now is to use my knowledge of the family and bring some food because I know they are hungry and Bruno Bettelheim believed children should never be refused food – bread and butter and milk should be available at all times. Eating can be used as a therapeutic experience – regression.
I will also try to connect to Zoe 's maternal instinct and if all else fails appeal to Kelly and see if she can get around Zoe.
If this fails I will continue to call back as much as I can to help this family. A common rule in social care is to wait until after 11.30 in the morning to call as many people on estates like this don 't work so they don 't feel the need to be up before this time, this could come in use if Zoe continues to ignore my calls I will resort to calling at 7am and continue to knock until I get an answer. According to http://www.socialworker.com/
Building Rapport to Get in the Door
Upon first contact with a client, social workers are often met with some barriers. The worker’s ability to gain entry into the home is often indicative of resistance to or compliance with intervention. Here are some suggestions for a first meeting in a client’s home:
1. Knock with authority, but not in a threatening way. It should be audible, but not deafening. Sometimes you must knock a few times before the client will answer. Try to refrain from “peeking” in windows, unless you are concerned for the potential safety of children in the home after repeatedly unanswered knocks.
2. Introduce yourself using your first and last name, and agency representation. You may need to repeat your first name a few times to allow the client to identify you not only as an agency representative, but also a person. When possible, smile. You might say something like, “Our agency received a call from someone concerned about your children. I would like to discuss that concern with you.”
3. Prior to asking to be invited into a client’s home, it is sometimes necessary to allow the client to process the idea of agency intervention. You may have to ask more than once.
4. Once in the home, ask the client’s permission to be seated and follow his or her instruction on where to sit. You may ask to move at some point during the visit, once rapport has been established.
5. Observe obvious rules in the home (shoes by the door or feet off the furniture, for example). You might explain to clients that you are a guest and ask them to advise you if you are breaking any of the house rules http://www.socialworker.com/featurearticles/practice/Tips_for_Making_Home_Visits_in_Child_Welfare/ I know as much as Kelly would want to help her younger siblings I couldn 't ask her to open the door as Zoe has already placed a very negative view of Social Workers in her mind telling her if she said certain things they may be taken from her, asking Kelly to let me in would cause her even more emotional stress which is what I am trying to avoid.
I am worried that Zoe may not be sending the children to school which at Kelly 's age is vital. She needs more forms of socialisation, other than Zoe. Socialisation refers to the way in which we absorb the rules of behavior which are common in our society (Abbot 1998:10). It is the process by which we learn how to behave within a given society (customs, laws, etiquette) through interacting with that society. Apart from formal lessons that teach children how to read, write etc, school teaches children the importance of punctuality and competition and it also gives them a routine. Routines give children a sense of security and help them develop self-discipline. Kids who come from chaotic homes where belongings aren 't put away never learn that life can run more smoothly if things are organized a little. In homes where there is no set time or space to do homework, kids never learn how to sit themselves down to accomplish an unpleasant task. Kids who don’t develop basic self-care routines, from grooming to food, may find it hard to take care of themselves as young adults.Structure allows us to internalize constructive habits.
http://www.ahaparenting.com/parenting-tools/family-life/structure-routines.
Attending school is essential for Kelly so that hopefully she can get out of the estate and make a better life for herself, the same applies to all the children. But in the estate the social norm seems to be a very low value placed on education meaning there is possibly a high risk of drop-outs from school. I fear this will lead to Kelly falling victim to the “poverty trap” which is a mechanism which makes it very difficult for people to escape poverty. A poverty trap is created when an economic system requires a significant amount of various forms of capital in order to earn enough to escape poverty. When individuals lack this capital, they may also find it difficult to acquire it, creating a self-reinforcing cycle of poverty.http://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/poverty-trap.asp “Lack of education is the cause of poverty but poverty is a cause of lack of
education”.
When I finally gained access to the house, after showing Zoe my determination to help her, I noticed several things, firstly there was no good hygiene which is going to be one of my first points of action, secondly the girls seem to be glued to the television which is worrying, there was no food and what I could find had mold growing on it. I was disgusted but couldn 't let it show, the children needed me and I couldn 't risk pissing Zoe off. I sat Zoe down and explained to her that I do not want to take her children from her and will not do so unless I feel it is absolutely necessary I just want to help them get back on track and become a better healthier happier family.
Immediate plan
On my first full day with the family, I arrived at 9 to find Zoe had not gotten up and ready like I had asked her so I called back at 12 when I was left in I handed Zoe cleaning supplies and told her that we were going to clean the entire flat because it was very unsuitable the way it was. It took a lot to get Zoe to do it but she knew that it was badly needed, I don 't believe Zoe means to be a bad mother I think shes just in a rut. By the end of the day the flat was live-able. I then produced some shopping and showed Zoe how to make a nice healthy spaghetti bolognese which is great for the children, I noticed when they ate the food they ate very fast which was a sign of hunger but also a sign that they were not used to food like this and they seem to be afraid that it would be taken from them if they left it there too long. I then produced a sterilizer for Zoe to make bottles for Kai I showed her how to use the new equipment and after he was happily full we put him to bed and then I sat down in the hallway with just Kelly to have a chat, it may sound weird sitting in a hallway with a child but this is where Kelly was playing so I decided to make her more comfortable and go to what Bruno Bettelheim refers to as her In between place,These are places only children can nominate – an adult cannot 'create one '.They are places with no purpose other than as routes to somewhere else: stairs, hallways, under table, behind the bike-sheds (Shane Dunphy,class presentation, moodle.) It was obvious she feels like an adult because when I asked about day to day life she left a clear impression that she was left to look after the younger children a bit and when I asked her about David she said “that 's another of mums man friends” which worried me because I want the children to have a healthy view of men and relationships from what I can gather their father just left them and left Zoe to be a lone parent. A lone parent is someone raising children on their own, whether they are a single parent, separated, divorced or widowed. 86% of lone parents are women. Lone parents are more likely than any other social group to be living in poverty. http://www.combatpoverty.ie/povertyinireland/oneparentfamilies.htm
When I asked how she felt when her mother shook her the night the wasp went into Kais mouth she went very quiet and I now believe this isn 't the first time it has happended. After my visit was over I started to make a plan for Kelly, I plan to help the whole family but Kelly is my main aim because she seems to have experienced the most and felt the most of this neglect. I organised for her to start seeing a counselor which I believe can really help her and even if Kelly doesn 't want to talk they can use activities like role play, art therapy, music therapy etc. I fear the children have not learned ego-integrity, that they deserve love this is shown when Kelly asked if she could take her siblings,who were clearly tired and fed up, home and Zoe called her thick, they don 't know that this isn 't a normal family environment and I don 't want to scare them by changing too much too soon. Zoe isn 't greatly abusive I have seen worse cases of abuse but it is the minor everyday event of having no food, not being washed, being in dirty clothes and Kai having no nappies that, personally, is worse that any one major incident of abuse. Zoe curses around the children a lot and I want this to stop because if when they start back in school they use this language they will be in trouble.Along as contacting the counselor I got in contact with schools in the surrounding areas to see which would be best suited for Kelly, I found one and she will start as soon as family life is settled down. On the second day I called at 12 and told Zoe that her bills had been sorted and paid up to date so that we could give the children a bath and wash their clothes. When they were fully dresses and ready they seemed uneasy in the fresh clothes but they looked happier, I sat Zoe down and we talked about money I had to ask where all her state benefits was going and she eventually told me that she owes majority of it to loan sharks and finds it hard to control where it all goes so I helped her to come up with a practical budget to help her get on track and then we came up with a routine for the children which she said was no good because they never had that but I told her It is never too late to start a routine.You set a good example for the children when you tell them, “The way that we have been doing things has not been working.We are going to try something new.Here is our new schedule.”While you should definitely be open to the fact that the schedule may need some adjustment, you also need to be firm in sticking to the new routine. At first, they will try to get you to break the routine, but do not give in to old habits.Young children need both consistency and limits. Know ahead of time that they will have difficulty adjusting, and be prepared with how you will handle this resistance. Zoe smiled and seemed to breathe an air of relief. I took Kelly and the children to a local youth center and showed them around to all the different groups that they run for children of all ages and they even have subsidized babysitting service Zoe seemed offended and shouted “I 'm not leaving my children with some strangers” I had to pull her aside and explain, “Look Zoe it 's like this, I brought you here so that you can meet everyone and talk to them so that when you are stuck for help you can bring they children here, or would you rather a repeat of the wasp incident” I know this was a little harsh but sometimes harsh words are needed to wake people up.
Medium
After a few weeks of four times a week visits I noticed a great difference in the children, Kelly smiles now. It seems that her counselling sessions are paying off. Although I haven 't magically fixing this family there is still a lot to do. Now its time for Kelly, Sinead and Leanne to start school. Zoe seemed reluctant to let them go, she is used to having them all day so I guessed she was afraid to be alone but that 's something all parents go through. The children need their education. They all started in a year below what they were meant to be in to give them a chance to catch up and are given extra help in class. I talked to Kelly about school a week or two after she start and she said a few older kids give her a hard time for being in a younger class but she then said she doesn 't mind this because she is getting better at reading and writing and she reads to Kai now. I also enrolled Zoe in an adult teaching class so that she can help the girls with their homework and this could possible help her with getting a part-time job. I met David on one of my visits and talked to him he seems like a decent man but he does admit he feels like he is in over his head. I told him not to make empty promises to this family and not to let them get attached if he 's planning on leaving.
When I asked Zoe about Mark she said he was controlling and verbally abusive. She describes herself when she met him as having no respect for herself. After they split up she had, “Tonnes of relationships with loads of knobheads…I think because my self esteem was so low I thought that’s all I deserve.” Domestic violence was a reoccurring pattern in these relationships. I then decided it was Zoe 's turn for counselling. Their daily routine now consists of Kelly, Sinead and Leanne going to school and Zoe bringing Kai to parent and toddler group then the girls would all go to youth group and Kai would be at the babysitter while Zoe attended adult classes and then they would go home for dinner the girls would finish homework and some family time would follow, we have reduced the time spent in front of the television because it was very clear that the youngest ws nearly being raised by it being able to quote a television advert at that age isn 't a good sign. They then have supper and off to bed. Not everything is smooth sailing I accept a few hiccups and so does Zoe but I can see the joy in the girls faces.
Long Term
The plan for the next year is simple enough, I will visit less frequently but keep tabs on how everything is going and if Zoe needs me I am a phone call away. They will continue their routine as it is working very well for them and Kai will start nursery in the youth center when he is old enough. Zoe has a savings account to put money aside from things like birthdays, Christmas, emergencies etc to prevent her from feeling the need to go to loan sharks.
Conclusion
As I said before I don 't think Zoe is a bad mother I do believe she was just stuck in a rut and hopefully now that she is out of this rut she will continue to keep the children 's life as positive and healthy as possible. My hopes for Kelly are that she will continue in school and go even further and make a career for herself I also hope that her childhood does not effect her when she grows up and hopefully the counselling will help with that for her. Frued believes that Kelly is now in the latent period of life which is for the age range of 6-puberty. During the latent period, the libido interests are suppressed. The development of the ego and superego contribute to this period of calm. The stage begins around the time that the children enter into school and become more concerned with peer relationships, hobbies, and other interests. The latent periods is a time of exploration in which the sexual energy is still present, but it is directed into other areas such as intellectual pursuits and social interactions. This stage is important in the development of social and communication skills and self-confidence.
Bibliography
http://www.directorsnotes.com/2011/09/25/wasp-2/ http://www.socialworker.com/ http://www.socialworker.com/featurearticles/practice/Tips_for_Making_Home_Visits_in_Child_Welfare/ http://www.playtherapy.ie/AboutPlayTherapy/PlayTherapyToolKit.htm http://www.education.com/magazine/article/importance-routines-preschool-children/ http://www.combatpoverty.ie/povertyinireland/oneparentfamilies.htm http://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/poverty-trap.asp http://www.ahaparenting.com/parenting-tools/family-life/structure-routines An Introduction to Sociology in Ireland, second edition, Bernadette McDonald, Gill & Macmillan
Introduction to intercultural studies, Rioghnat Crotty, Gill & Macmillan
From viewing the film WASP I get the feeling that Zoe became pregnant young and naively with little or no understanding of what it would entail, but from the footage of the estate I doubt this was uncommon. Zoe places a lot of responsibility on Kelly this is seen when she hands Kelly the sugar and tells her to share it out, when she tells Kelly to watch her younger siblings while she is in the pub but it is profoundly clear when she shakes and …show more content…
yells at Kelly for the wasp going into Kai 's mouth. Zoe has miss-placed emotions for her children, when she is fighting with “Bullethead” she yells “no one hits my kids and gets away with it”, she doesn 't seem to realize that her neglect for the basic needs is hurting them more. Zoe stands up for her children in the fight but then a few minutes later she denies that they are hers to David when he asked. At the pub scenes Zoe only seems bothered about herself and having good time while her children remains outside alone at night in a not very friendly looking area where anything could happen to them. The fact that Zoe has to buy the first round of drinks shows us both how poor she is and also how she places impressing David above her children by sacrificing their dinner which is their only meal of the day apart from sugar, just to get him what he wants. This is also shown when at closing time, instead of bringing her bored and hungry children home she gets into Davids car to be alone. It is clear that the dynamic of the family is very unstable and the line between mother and child is blurred.
I know that gaining access into the house will be one of the most difficult tasks as social workers wont be viewed very highly in the estate. They are seen as a threat between people who dislike each other “I 'll call social services”. I am well aware that Zoe will know that I am on my way so I don 't expect an answer to my first call but I will be persistent. I believe the best tactic I can use right now is to use my knowledge of the family and bring some food because I know they are hungry and Bruno Bettelheim believed children should never be refused food – bread and butter and milk should be available at all times. Eating can be used as a therapeutic experience – regression.
I will also try to connect to Zoe 's maternal instinct and if all else fails appeal to Kelly and see if she can get around Zoe.
If this fails I will continue to call back as much as I can to help this family. A common rule in social care is to wait until after 11.30 in the morning to call as many people on estates like this don 't work so they don 't feel the need to be up before this time, this could come in use if Zoe continues to ignore my calls I will resort to calling at 7am and continue to knock until I get an answer. According to http://www.socialworker.com/
Building Rapport to Get in the Door
Upon first contact with a client, social workers are often met with some barriers. The worker’s ability to gain entry into the home is often indicative of resistance to or compliance with intervention. Here are some suggestions for a first meeting in a client’s home:
1. Knock with authority, but not in a threatening way. It should be audible, but not deafening. Sometimes you must knock a few times before the client will answer. Try to refrain from “peeking” in windows, unless you are concerned for the potential safety of children in the home after repeatedly unanswered knocks.
2. Introduce yourself using your first and last name, and agency representation. You may need to repeat your first name a few times to allow the client to identify you not only as an agency representative, but also a person. When possible, smile. You might say something like, “Our agency received a call from someone concerned about your children. I would like to discuss that concern with you.”
3. Prior to asking to be invited into a client’s home, it is sometimes necessary to allow the client to process the idea of agency intervention. You may have to ask more than once.
4. Once in the home, ask the client’s permission to be seated and follow his or her instruction on where to sit. You may ask to move at some point during the visit, once rapport has been established.
5. Observe obvious rules in the home (shoes by the door or feet off the furniture, for example). You might explain to clients that you are a guest and ask them to advise you if you are breaking any of the house rules http://www.socialworker.com/featurearticles/practice/Tips_for_Making_Home_Visits_in_Child_Welfare/ I know as much as Kelly would want to help her younger siblings I couldn 't ask her to open the door as Zoe has already placed a very negative view of Social Workers in her mind telling her if she said certain things they may be taken from her, asking Kelly to let me in would cause her even more emotional stress which is what I am trying to avoid.
I am worried that Zoe may not be sending the children to school which at Kelly 's age is vital. She needs more forms of socialisation, other than Zoe. Socialisation refers to the way in which we absorb the rules of behavior which are common in our society (Abbot 1998:10). It is the process by which we learn how to behave within a given society (customs, laws, etiquette) through interacting with that society. Apart from formal lessons that teach children how to read, write etc, school teaches children the importance of punctuality and competition and it also gives them a routine. Routines give children a sense of security and help them develop self-discipline. Kids who come from chaotic homes where belongings aren 't put away never learn that life can run more smoothly if things are organized a little. In homes where there is no set time or space to do homework, kids never learn how to sit themselves down to accomplish an unpleasant task. Kids who don’t develop basic self-care routines, from grooming to food, may find it hard to take care of themselves as young adults.Structure allows us to internalize constructive habits.
http://www.ahaparenting.com/parenting-tools/family-life/structure-routines.
Attending school is essential for Kelly so that hopefully she can get out of the estate and make a better life for herself, the same applies to all the children. But in the estate the social norm seems to be a very low value placed on education meaning there is possibly a high risk of drop-outs from school. I fear this will lead to Kelly falling victim to the “poverty trap” which is a mechanism which makes it very difficult for people to escape poverty. A poverty trap is created when an economic system requires a significant amount of various forms of capital in order to earn enough to escape poverty. When individuals lack this capital, they may also find it difficult to acquire it, creating a self-reinforcing cycle of poverty.http://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/poverty-trap.asp “Lack of education is the cause of poverty but poverty is a cause of lack of
education”.
When I finally gained access to the house, after showing Zoe my determination to help her, I noticed several things, firstly there was no good hygiene which is going to be one of my first points of action, secondly the girls seem to be glued to the television which is worrying, there was no food and what I could find had mold growing on it. I was disgusted but couldn 't let it show, the children needed me and I couldn 't risk pissing Zoe off. I sat Zoe down and explained to her that I do not want to take her children from her and will not do so unless I feel it is absolutely necessary I just want to help them get back on track and become a better healthier happier family.
Immediate plan
On my first full day with the family, I arrived at 9 to find Zoe had not gotten up and ready like I had asked her so I called back at 12 when I was left in I handed Zoe cleaning supplies and told her that we were going to clean the entire flat because it was very unsuitable the way it was. It took a lot to get Zoe to do it but she knew that it was badly needed, I don 't believe Zoe means to be a bad mother I think shes just in a rut. By the end of the day the flat was live-able. I then produced some shopping and showed Zoe how to make a nice healthy spaghetti bolognese which is great for the children, I noticed when they ate the food they ate very fast which was a sign of hunger but also a sign that they were not used to food like this and they seem to be afraid that it would be taken from them if they left it there too long. I then produced a sterilizer for Zoe to make bottles for Kai I showed her how to use the new equipment and after he was happily full we put him to bed and then I sat down in the hallway with just Kelly to have a chat, it may sound weird sitting in a hallway with a child but this is where Kelly was playing so I decided to make her more comfortable and go to what Bruno Bettelheim refers to as her In between place,These are places only children can nominate – an adult cannot 'create one '.They are places with no purpose other than as routes to somewhere else: stairs, hallways, under table, behind the bike-sheds (Shane Dunphy,class presentation, moodle.) It was obvious she feels like an adult because when I asked about day to day life she left a clear impression that she was left to look after the younger children a bit and when I asked her about David she said “that 's another of mums man friends” which worried me because I want the children to have a healthy view of men and relationships from what I can gather their father just left them and left Zoe to be a lone parent. A lone parent is someone raising children on their own, whether they are a single parent, separated, divorced or widowed. 86% of lone parents are women. Lone parents are more likely than any other social group to be living in poverty. http://www.combatpoverty.ie/povertyinireland/oneparentfamilies.htm
When I asked how she felt when her mother shook her the night the wasp went into Kais mouth she went very quiet and I now believe this isn 't the first time it has happended. After my visit was over I started to make a plan for Kelly, I plan to help the whole family but Kelly is my main aim because she seems to have experienced the most and felt the most of this neglect. I organised for her to start seeing a counselor which I believe can really help her and even if Kelly doesn 't want to talk they can use activities like role play, art therapy, music therapy etc. I fear the children have not learned ego-integrity, that they deserve love this is shown when Kelly asked if she could take her siblings,who were clearly tired and fed up, home and Zoe called her thick, they don 't know that this isn 't a normal family environment and I don 't want to scare them by changing too much too soon. Zoe isn 't greatly abusive I have seen worse cases of abuse but it is the minor everyday event of having no food, not being washed, being in dirty clothes and Kai having no nappies that, personally, is worse that any one major incident of abuse. Zoe curses around the children a lot and I want this to stop because if when they start back in school they use this language they will be in trouble.Along as contacting the counselor I got in contact with schools in the surrounding areas to see which would be best suited for Kelly, I found one and she will start as soon as family life is settled down. On the second day I called at 12 and told Zoe that her bills had been sorted and paid up to date so that we could give the children a bath and wash their clothes. When they were fully dresses and ready they seemed uneasy in the fresh clothes but they looked happier, I sat Zoe down and we talked about money I had to ask where all her state benefits was going and she eventually told me that she owes majority of it to loan sharks and finds it hard to control where it all goes so I helped her to come up with a practical budget to help her get on track and then we came up with a routine for the children which she said was no good because they never had that but I told her It is never too late to start a routine.You set a good example for the children when you tell them, “The way that we have been doing things has not been working.We are going to try something new.Here is our new schedule.”While you should definitely be open to the fact that the schedule may need some adjustment, you also need to be firm in sticking to the new routine. At first, they will try to get you to break the routine, but do not give in to old habits.Young children need both consistency and limits. Know ahead of time that they will have difficulty adjusting, and be prepared with how you will handle this resistance. Zoe smiled and seemed to breathe an air of relief. I took Kelly and the children to a local youth center and showed them around to all the different groups that they run for children of all ages and they even have subsidized babysitting service Zoe seemed offended and shouted “I 'm not leaving my children with some strangers” I had to pull her aside and explain, “Look Zoe it 's like this, I brought you here so that you can meet everyone and talk to them so that when you are stuck for help you can bring they children here, or would you rather a repeat of the wasp incident” I know this was a little harsh but sometimes harsh words are needed to wake people up.
Medium
After a few weeks of four times a week visits I noticed a great difference in the children, Kelly smiles now. It seems that her counselling sessions are paying off. Although I haven 't magically fixing this family there is still a lot to do. Now its time for Kelly, Sinead and Leanne to start school. Zoe seemed reluctant to let them go, she is used to having them all day so I guessed she was afraid to be alone but that 's something all parents go through. The children need their education. They all started in a year below what they were meant to be in to give them a chance to catch up and are given extra help in class. I talked to Kelly about school a week or two after she start and she said a few older kids give her a hard time for being in a younger class but she then said she doesn 't mind this because she is getting better at reading and writing and she reads to Kai now. I also enrolled Zoe in an adult teaching class so that she can help the girls with their homework and this could possible help her with getting a part-time job. I met David on one of my visits and talked to him he seems like a decent man but he does admit he feels like he is in over his head. I told him not to make empty promises to this family and not to let them get attached if he 's planning on leaving.
When I asked Zoe about Mark she said he was controlling and verbally abusive. She describes herself when she met him as having no respect for herself. After they split up she had, “Tonnes of relationships with loads of knobheads…I think because my self esteem was so low I thought that’s all I deserve.” Domestic violence was a reoccurring pattern in these relationships. I then decided it was Zoe 's turn for counselling. Their daily routine now consists of Kelly, Sinead and Leanne going to school and Zoe bringing Kai to parent and toddler group then the girls would all go to youth group and Kai would be at the babysitter while Zoe attended adult classes and then they would go home for dinner the girls would finish homework and some family time would follow, we have reduced the time spent in front of the television because it was very clear that the youngest ws nearly being raised by it being able to quote a television advert at that age isn 't a good sign. They then have supper and off to bed. Not everything is smooth sailing I accept a few hiccups and so does Zoe but I can see the joy in the girls faces.
Long Term
The plan for the next year is simple enough, I will visit less frequently but keep tabs on how everything is going and if Zoe needs me I am a phone call away. They will continue their routine as it is working very well for them and Kai will start nursery in the youth center when he is old enough. Zoe has a savings account to put money aside from things like birthdays, Christmas, emergencies etc to prevent her from feeling the need to go to loan sharks.
Conclusion
As I said before I don 't think Zoe is a bad mother I do believe she was just stuck in a rut and hopefully now that she is out of this rut she will continue to keep the children 's life as positive and healthy as possible. My hopes for Kelly are that she will continue in school and go even further and make a career for herself I also hope that her childhood does not effect her when she grows up and hopefully the counselling will help with that for her. Frued believes that Kelly is now in the latent period of life which is for the age range of 6-puberty. During the latent period, the libido interests are suppressed. The development of the ego and superego contribute to this period of calm. The stage begins around the time that the children enter into school and become more concerned with peer relationships, hobbies, and other interests. The latent periods is a time of exploration in which the sexual energy is still present, but it is directed into other areas such as intellectual pursuits and social interactions. This stage is important in the development of social and communication skills and self-confidence.
Bibliography
http://www.directorsnotes.com/2011/09/25/wasp-2/ http://www.socialworker.com/ http://www.socialworker.com/featurearticles/practice/Tips_for_Making_Home_Visits_in_Child_Welfare/ http://www.playtherapy.ie/AboutPlayTherapy/PlayTherapyToolKit.htm http://www.education.com/magazine/article/importance-routines-preschool-children/ http://www.combatpoverty.ie/povertyinireland/oneparentfamilies.htm http://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/poverty-trap.asp http://www.ahaparenting.com/parenting-tools/family-life/structure-routines An Introduction to Sociology in Ireland, second edition, Bernadette McDonald, Gill & Macmillan
Introduction to intercultural studies, Rioghnat Crotty, Gill & Macmillan