Consider Marsha

Marsha is getting ready to take her two-year-old daughter Aisha outside. It is winter in Saskatoon and 20 centimetres of new snow is covering the sidewalks outside her home. Aisha has started to dress herself to go outside. She is able to pull on her snow pants and jacket. Aisha waits patiently while Marsha does up her zipper and slips on her hat.

Marsha says, “Okay, Aisha, time for your boots.”

“No”, says Aisha as she goes to the cupboard and pulls out her new patent leather shoes. She sits down on the floor and in spite of the bulk of her snow pants, she is able to pull on her shoes. All the while, Marsha is calmly asking Aisha to put the shoes away and come put on her snow boots.

Aisha walks over to Marsha and takes the boots and throws them into the corner. She says, “I go now” and heads for the door.

Marsha picks up the boots, gathers Aisha into her arms, and says firmly, “You need boots. It is cold and there is snow.”

Aisha twists around in her mother’s grasp and says loudly, “No. I want my shoes.” As Marsha tries to take off the shoes, Aisha begins to kick. Then she starts to scream “No, no, no”. In the next minute, Aisha is thrashing, screaming and crying. Marsha has taken off the shoes but she is not able to get the boots on Aisha’s kicking feet.

Describe Aisha’s level of arousal.

How would you suggest Marsha help Aisha to ‘down-regulate’?