Samantha

Backstroke Raptor by The Story Pirates

Lyric Excerpt (for full lyrics click here)

NARRATOR
IT WAS DINNER TIME
FOR THE FAMILY OF MONSTERS
SAMANTHA HAD SOMETHING ON HER MIND

AFTER A THREE COURSE MEAL
SHE FINALLY FOUND THE COURAGE
TO TELL HER MONSTER PARENTS WHAT SHE
FELT INSIDE

SHE SAID

(As SAMANTHA)
MOM AND DAD
I WANT TO BE A HUMAN
MOM AND DAD
I WANT TO BE A HUMAN BEING
MOM AND DAD
I REALLY REALLY WANNA BE A….

MOM AND DAD
NO WAY!

NARRATOR
HER PARENTS SHOUTED VERY LOUDLY
BUT THIS HADN’T CHANGED SAMANTHA’S MIND
SHE THOUGHT

(AS SAMANTHA)
I’LL RUN AWAY
WHILE EVERYONE IS SLEEPING
TO THE MONSTER OF MONSTERS AT MIDNIGHT.

The song Samantha, created by the Story Pirates, tells of a girl’s journey to leave her family of monsters and become human. What a metaphor for overcoming negative patterns from your family of origin! I am impressed that such an exemplary tale of a journey towards differentiation could be written by a 9 year old .

Differentiation is one of my favorite therapeutic concepts. It is often, if not always, a goal I include in any therapy, individual, couple or family. Differentiation, simply, means that You (if you are the client) are able to become your own whole person, distinct from the reactivity of your family. To be differentiated is to develop the ability to be intimate with others while simultaneously experiencing yourself as a separate self. A differentiated person has a strong sense of self and self identify and can more easily navigate being a separate self and being intimate with others. For example, if your family has a habit of getting critical as a defense, you differentiate yourself by finding more empathy compassion as a response. Of course, achieving differentiation can be complicated and challenging. Just as in the story of the song, differentiating yourself from negative patterns in your relationships can often be met with backlash. (“’No way!’ Her parents shouted very loudly”)

In the story of this song Samantha persists by climbing “the tallest mountain she had ever known” (more therapy metaphors!) and becomes human. I’m assuming as a human, she is able to manage big emotions with less reactivity than the monsters in her family.