I started doing some work with my inner child last summer. I was inspired to do this work by Tiffany Roe, a therapist with a fun and inspiring Instagram feed. I wrote out long conversations with my inner child in my journal. Sometimes, I hung out with my five year old inner child. Other times, I talked with my high school self. The conversations were very therapeutic.

Then I got sidetracked with that whole distance learning thing and my curiosity led me in other directions.

But last week, I was at Target when I spotted a green Lucky Charms t-shirt. My inner child screamed, Yes! Get that shirt!

I got the shirt.

Then I spotted an enormous display of Lucky Charms at the grocery store. My inner child screamed, Let’s have Lucky Charms for breakfast on St. Patty’s Day!

My inner critic/judge/asshole said, No no no, Lucky Charms are too sugary. You can’t have that shit for breakfast. You are too fat anyway. You can’t eat that.

I considered the Lucky Charms display. Should I listen to my inner child or my inner critic/judge/asshole?

I put a box of Lucky Charms in my cart. They were my favorite “forbidden” cereal as a child. My mom bought Cheerios and Cornflakes. When I got to college, I felt absolutely giddy when I was able to buy my first box of Lucky Charms. But at the age of 42, I have learned from Noom that no food is forbidden. If my inner child wants Lucky Charms for breakfast, by god, that is what she gets! Today I had a big bowl of Lucky Charms for breakfast. My inner child was absolutely delighted.

I am going to try to pay better attention to my inner child this year. What does she want? What does she need? How does she want to play and have fun?

What does your inner child want and need from you?