Can someone please tell me if this is normal 10 year old behavior? Very disturbed. - Page 2

[fritz]

I agree that writing is a wonderful outlet for all sorts of emotions, so definitely let her keep writing whatever she wants. Do have a discussion about what is and is not appropriate for sharing with her younger sister. Counselling would be wonderful (for the whole family).

Since the writing seems to be working for her, would your SIL be open to starting a correspondence with her DD? As in, DD writes questions about what she's aware of w/ the family dynamics, and your SIL tries to answer them honestly by writing back to her?

Or, can the school librarian suggest some fiction books that deal with kids whose parents are working out their problems? Your niece might not have any new friends at the new school that she feels comfortable talking about this stuff with...so reading about others going through it could help her feel less isolated....

As for the plots of her recent stories, there was something similar on TV in 1992 (I had to IMDB it to get the date) starring Christopher Reeve in a "Tales from the Crypt" episode...and then there's Sweeney Todd (motion pictures starting in the late 1920s), where they use human meat in their pies (great music from the stage version, btw). So her ideas aren't unique, if that makes you (or your SIL) feel any better.

[mamakah]

I think she's probably influenced by stories she's reading and also working out any pain she's feeling through the stories.
When I was in highschool I read "Carrie" and a few months later had to write a short story in my writing class. I wrote the most disturbing story about a young girl who let her abusive mother bleed to death on the bathroom floor after prematurely giving birth to a baby. To this day I have no idea where it came from. I was just inspired by the writing in "Carrie" and was able to write something similar. My story was brought to the principle's attention and he called me into his office and asked me where it came from. Honestly, I had nothing strange going on in my life, I was just writing like I was told too. I've never written anything like it since. I wouldn't worry about it. I'm sure that teacher and principle probably think I'm in prison or something now. he he.
Maybe she'll be the next Stephen King or Ann Rice.

[phathui5]

I think that since she's having to deal with the dissolution of the parents' marriage, or at the very least, living with parents who are fighting, some counseling could be in order.

[Super~Single~Mama]

Originally Posted by Thalia the Muse

In fact, I like to read scary books with a kitten in my lap.

This is the ONLY way I can read scary stories - cats are so comforting!

As for the little girl, I had a runaway imagination when I was that age, I'm just not good at creative writing so it didn't get written down. And, ftr, my parents marriage has always been rock solid, and they've now been married for 33 years.

Counseling is not a bad idea though, given all the changes happening in her life.

[ErinYay]

I used to write stories that got me sent to the guidance counselor's office in elementary and middle school, to the point where teachers just stopped sending me, because I was just a weird kid with a vivid imagination. Sure, my home life was a little chaotic and stressful, but I mostly just liked writing and felt at the same age your niece is that "mature" writers didn't shy away from the macabre. Of course, I didn't have the emotional maturity to go along with my writing ability, so I'm sure some of my stories seemed especially disturbing to adults.

[lellian]

Thank you all so much for your thoughts, opinions and ideas. I have so much to talk about with my SIL.

I want to encourage her writing, so I love the idea about a mentor program and/or a writing class.

Thanks for helping us put this in perspective, and for your very kind words. I'm in your debt.