For me my experience has been, would a grown woman adult, act like a 5 year old, talk like a five year old, when she is really in her 40s? Would she not realize she is a.grown woman that CAN make adult decisions, have a job, ( which I actually dont) buy a house, ( which parts were totally against because it reminded parts of childhood) and can make decisions about what foods to buy at the grocery store ( which I have left the store in a panic because I couldn't make decisions ... influence by young parts)
My T reminds me every session that I am a grown woman with two kids and not a five year old incapable of doing for herself. For some reason, at the end of session my transition is difficult, and I think it's because young little parts want things from her and even I am not sure what it might be at this point.
I know I act out and talk differently when in a different part of mind because my kids see it, my T sees it and my dad has too. It is out of character for a grown adult to think and act like a five year old vs pretending...another way I can explain, I asked T once what's the difference between you ( a singleton) and me as DID...she said, she can sit down and play with a child and still know feel and sense she is an adult, vs me whom acts, sounds, behaves, thinks and believes I am a child.
I still struggle as sometimes I feel I am a fellow teen with my 15 year old vs being his mom. I don't see the lines...only when something has passed I can look and realise that was not my most adult self doing that. Sometimes I have to change discipline or consequences and it's hard because one moment I say and do this or that next the rules change again. I know it's confusing for my son, and I hate I have no consistency.hope this helps some.