bih@globalnet.co.uk wrote...

Do you wish to be listed anonymously? No

Which area is your meta4 useful in? .....The following is a very effective metaphor, with marked out suggestions taken from our book (Metaphor Collection), that we have used many times when working with children with enuresis. This has been used very successfully a number of times on young children experiencing enuresis.

Which country? UK

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ANIMALS ON ISLAND...by Mary Lawrance

Once upon a time there were lots of small creatures living together happily on an island, there were squirrels, foxes, rabbits and most small creatures you could imagine, they all survived very well as food was plentiful.

One man farmed most of the island and worked hard growing the crops, but no matter what he did to protect his growing food, somehow the rabbits became very skilled at getting at the lettuce, carrots, cabbages, and all the other things that rabbits like to eat.

But the farmer quite liked the little creatures, and so the rabbit population grew and grew. One year it rained a lot and the farmers crop didn’t seem to germinate, and the big older rabbit became very worried, and wondered how they would survive without food to help them keep fit and strong.

And so one day, wondering just what he could do to help, he wandered down to the edge of the island and looked at the water, he could see across to the bank on the other side, and over there he could see lots of food growing, but how could he get across? Rabbits can’t swim, and love to be dry (name).

So he sat for a long time, pondering, he watched the beavers playing around enjoying themselves, there was plenty of fish for them to live on. The beaver seeing his friend looking so sad asked what was wrong and after hearing about the problem said we can help you stay dry, we can build a dam right across to the other side.

So they began to construct a dam, collecting every tree stump and twig, and cementing it together with mud. Many hours they worked, day and night, until it was finally finished. Several times the water seeped over the top and they repaired it, and then made a ledge so that the rabbits, (name) can stay dry as they walk across, they needed it to stay dry all night, as night was the chosen time for their journey.

Then the glowworms.... always willing to assist, helped light them on their way with the tiny lamps they carry at night, and one by one the rabbits crossed, staying dry all night, and that’s how they solved the problem. .

Ed's note: Thankyou Mary and Peter Lawrance.