Whispers in the Dark

Interview #3

An excerpt from "A Father's Worry: Peter Woods on His Son"

Interviewer: "Peter, can you describe your reaction when you first heard about Jeff's fight at school?"

Peter Woods: "It was a shock, to be honest. We had just moved to Crescentville, and we hoped it would be a fresh start for all of us, especially Jeff. When the school called and said he was involved in a fight, my heart sank. It wasn't the kind of news any parent wants to hear."

Interviewer: "What did you think might have caused the fight?"

Peter Woods: "Well, Jeff told us that some boys were bullying him, trying to get him to do their homework. When he refused, they attacked him. I know Jeff has always had a bit of a temper, especially when he feels cornered, but hearing that he got into a physical altercation was troubling. It made me realize just how much he was struggling to adjust."

Interviewer: "How did you and Margaret handle the situation when Jeff came home?"

Peter Woods: "We were both extremely concerned. Margaret was beside herself with worry, and I was trying to find a way to talk to Jeff without making him feel attacked. When we asked him about it, he was defensive and angry. I could see he was hurt, not just physically but emotionally. He felt like he had no support, and that broke my heart."

Interviewer: "Did Jeff's reaction surprise you?"

Peter Woods: "In a way, yes. But in another way, it didn't. Jeff has always had a bit of an oppositional streak. He doesn't like being told what to do, especially when he's already feeling vulnerable or threatened. I think he felt like we were blaming him, even though we just wanted to help. It's tough as a parent, trying to find the right balance between offering support and not pushing too hard."

Interviewer: "What was going through your mind during that conversation?"

Peter Woods: "I was worried, plain and simple. I wanted to protect Jeff, to make sure he felt safe and understood. But I could see that he was shutting down, building walls around himself. I knew if we didn't handle this carefully, we could push him even further away. It was a helpless feeling, wanting to fix things for him but knowing that he had to be willing to let us in."

Interviewer: "How did you and Margaret plan to address Jeff's struggles moving forward?"

Peter Woods: "We decided to seek help, to get him into counseling so he could have someone to talk to outside the family. We hoped a professional could reach him in ways we couldn't. We also tried to be more present, more attentive to his needs. It wasn't easy, and there were a lot of tough days, but we were determined to do whatever it took to support him."

Interviewer: "Looking back, is there anything you wish you had done differently?"

Peter Woods: "Absolutely. I wish I had pushed harder for him to open up, to talk about his feelings. Maybe if we had started therapy sooner or found other ways to help him cope, things might have turned out differently. Hindsight is always 20/20, but as a father, you can't help but replay those moments and wonder what you could have done better."