I don't talk about family Flashcards
What is the Closed Chapter Protocol?
You’re calm, polite, and firm. You don’t flinch. You don’t explain. And you do not open the family door just because they knocked.
How do you respond to ‘Tell me about your parents’?
I don’t talk about my parents. That part of my story isn’t available for discussion.
They expect at least some softening or rationalization. You didn’t defend it—you just shut the door.
How do you respond to ‘What was your childhood like’?
It happened. It’s not something I revisit.
They rely on narrative to unlock emotion. You gave them closure instead of content.
How do you respond to ‘Do you have siblings’?
Yes. I don’t talk about him.
They expect you to soften, explain, or elaborate. Instead, you created a boundary with no leak.
How do you respond to ‘What were your family dynamics like’?
We won’t be using that lens in my work.
That’s their lens. You didn’t just decline the question—you rejected the entire frame.
How do you respond to ‘Were your caregivers emotionally available’?
That’s not a thread I pull.
They wanted vulnerability. You gave them a clean cut and a calm refusal.
How do you respond to ‘Would you say there’s unresolved pain there’?
Even if I were, it’s not up for processing here.
You gave them what sounds like honesty—but still blocked the door. Now they can’t argue with denial or openness.
How do you respond to ‘You seem closed off about this—why’?
It’s not guarded. It’s just off-limits. There’s a difference.
They want to find the defense and peel it back. You made it clear there is no defense—just sovereignty.
How do you respond to ‘Would it help to talk through any family events’?
The past isn’t the direction I’m working in.
They want to excavate. You said I build forward, not dig back.
How do you respond to ‘Even just generally—what kind of family were they’?
Irrelevant to what I’m working on here.
You made it clear this isn’t repression—it’s strategic focus. They can’t “get in” if you’ve decided they don’t need to.
How do you respond to ‘That’s a big part of your story, though…’?
Not everything gets to be understood. Some parts just stay sacred or sealed.
They want access. You said, just because it’s important doesn’t mean it’s public.
