Wilf is a wolf cub who wants to be fierce & to try everything all on his own. When his elders set out to look for a new home, Wilf finds it hard to accept that he is too small to lead. He struggles to keep up & won’t howl for help. All alone, he falls through the ice but as he spins downwards, a narwhal comes to his rescue. What feels like the end for Wilf becomes just the beginning, as he is assisted by a series of arctic animal friends to re-join his pack. The wolves cuddle him close again & Wilf has learnt he can accept support. A pacy, rhyming story that carries us safely out of the cold & darkness of solitude, into the warmth of friendship, kindness & love.
A young child can naturally show stubbornness, as they begin to explore their identity. They learn first about who they are in close relationships with their primary carers. If they experience their parent as delighting in them, celebrating their strengths & guiding them with their struggles, they develop a rounded sense of self. They feel accepted & have confidence that their vulnerability is valued as much as their independence; that all parts of themself will be honoured. A securely attached child may be wilful sometimes, but they learn that its ok to rely on others, too.
How much more difficult it is for a child with developmental trauma to trust others to meet their needs, if they have experienced early in life that their smallness & weakness is not accepted, or if this was neglected or abused. They may then find these qualities terrifying & want to deny them. Acting big & fierce becomes internalised to avoid being hurt again. The ability for social connection is switched off, as self-reliance feels much safer. Whilst Wilf stretches out a paw to the narwhal, for a traumatised child, reaching out to others can be one of the hardest things to do.
The Way Home for Wolf provides opportunities to explore these themes & what might make it easier or harder to allow others to help us. Wilf’s story offers up a hopefulness that we can find goodness in the world & build circles of support around ourselves & our families, so that we don’t have to struggle alone.
Welcome to the world of the Moffles! 