tw: anger issues, anxiety, therapy
[name_m]Hawthorne[/name_m] " [name_m]Hank[/name_m] " [name_u]Michael[/name_u] [name_u]Perry[/name_u] (8) is the second to oldest child of [name_u]Walter[/name_u] and [name_f]Levia[/name_f]. He and [name_f]Margo[/name_f] have been going through a lot in the past few weeks. Trying to keep [name_f]Dorie[/name_f] and [name_f]Una[/name_f] occupied so they don’t miss their mom too much has been a mission he gratefully accepted. [name_m]Hank[/name_m] wants to be busy, has to be busy, especially now. Nighttime is the worst for him because when there’s nothing to do, he starts thinking of all the worst-case scenarios. [name_m]Hank[/name_m] is having a tough time regulating his feelings. He tries not to yell at anyone when they upset him, but it’s hard. He’s mad at his mom for messing everything up but misses her a lot, just the same. He’s furious with JP and even upset at his dad, though he doesn’t know why. Uncle Monty’s wife has realized that [name_m]Hank[/name_m] isn’t coping well at all. She’s talked to both [name_u]Walter[/name_u] and [name_f]Levia[/name_f] about therapy for him. They’ve agreed, and he starts next week. This has slightly weakened Levia’s belief that Walter’s family wants to keep her away from the kids. Only one parent is required to consent to a child’s therapy, so there was no need for [name_f]Levia[/name_f] to be asked for an opinion.
Before all of this drama, [name_m]Hank[/name_m] was probably the happiest and most outgoing of all his siblings. He enjoyed being outside, getting dirty, and playing all day, or at least until he was called inside for dinner. [name_m]Hank[/name_m] loves to read, and when [name_f]Margo[/name_f] is busy ‘observing’ (she hates the word spying), he reads to [name_f]Dorie[/name_f] and [name_f]Una[/name_f]. He wishes his mom was here to do that as she always did the best voices. [name_m]Hank[/name_m] is very grateful to [name_u]Monty[/name_u] and his wife for letting them stay at their house. He knew there were other family members with more room who could’ve taken them in, but they were farther away from home. [name_m]Hank[/name_m] likes being close to his home; it makes things feel a little less awful. Through Margo’s observations, she found out that their mom is trying to get full custody. After looking that up to see what it was, she told [name_m]Hank[/name_m]. They’re both worried about not seeing their dad or their large extended family, but even though they’re upset with their mom, they want to see her too.