separation anxiety

Clare,
It is interesting how each child is differently attached to me…
to us (husband and I).
Those differences were amplified when we were separated a few years back. I think they played us against each other. But, one of the things that kept us talking was the kids…
what they needed…
what trouble they'd gotten into…
even something really nice occasionally.

I am amazed how different 4 biologically related people can be…
but then again look at the 9 of us…
very different in many aspects.

I saw a video yesterday of a 16 month old boy placed in a residential nursery for 9 days while his mother delivered a second baby…
it was from the UK in 1940s.
They followed the regression of this little boy on film…
crying, cuddling teddy bears, tantrums, shutting down, not eating, not sleeping, clinging onto the workers…
when mom returned he wouldn't even look at her for an extended period of time. When he finally looked at her it was so painful.
The course instructor talked about how kids are often being separated from their parents…
one of your passions…
and how this is probably forgotten as an adult…
but manifested as a separation anxiety with the spouse.
I can attest to that one…
husband makes the most painful comments when I'm leaving home for a period of time…
he means well, telling how much he'll miss me and doesn't know what he'll do…
but it makes me feel guilty.
How are we all functioning with a degree of separation anxiety in this crazy society?
It would be interesting to tease that out sometime.

Our papa rework is almost complete for the young men's foster care application. We are doing an all day training this weekend. It looks like weekend overnight visits are going to start next weekend. It's exciting, and frightening at the same time.

Love and Light beautiful sister,
Maggie