They say,
if we accept our son
he will think
he is fine
just the way he is
and he will not grow.

The son
speaks of the support
he has received.

They ask:
“Are you sure
you told them
everything?”

The son is confused.

What would I leave out?
What would I hide?

How could
I change
without sharing
all of my
Self?

They say,
We only say
what we say
because we care.

If they ever stopped
criticizing,
the son would think
there is nothing
wrong with him.

Then he would stop
trying
to change.

He wonders
what he should change.

They never say.

Now in different rooms
with different people
they are asked
to avoid sharing
certain aspects
of themselves—

for the benefit
of others.

So others will be
happy,
safe,
comfortable.

To meet the needs
of others
they agree
not to share
certain aspects
of themselves.

One tells him
to change.
Then another
tells him
to change.

They refuse to tell him
what to change.

What to hide.

What to avoid.