Check out Sigmund to the left. Is it just me or does he look a hell of a lot like George Carlin?
The point of this post is to say that for all of the psychology courses I took in college (it was my minor), I sure can't apply it to real life situations. Anna and Emma have been going through a phase (at least, I hope it's only a phase) where they do not want me out of their sight. This might not be so unusual for small children, but they're almost 8 and 10. I've been trying to figure out what to attribute it to. I ask them but it seems that they can't put their finger on exactly what caused them to start worrying about me so much. They tell me that they're worried that something will happen to me, like someone kidnapping me or a car hitting me. Anna has mentioned my dad a couple of times and how he died suddenly, so maybe that has something to do with it. But most of this came up recently and my dad died about a year and a half ago. I really think a lot of it has to do with the hurricane, even though they don't seem to identify the problem with that particular event. I did watch it on television often when it first happened. How could I not; it was such a devastating story? I think I probably let them see a little too much, thinking that they weren't really paying that much attention. They absorb everything though, and my little worriers (they didn't miss that worrying gene from their mom) tend to internalize much of it. Maybe seeing and hearing about such a catastrophic event that was so close to home has been too much for them. I've tried to talk to them about it and how they shouldn't worry about me because I'm an adult and can take care of myself. I tell them it's my job to worry about THEM, not the other way around. I'm hoping that with a little bit of time, they'll feel comfortable being away from me again. We're working on it slowly. It just goes to show that even though we weren't personally physically affected by the hurricane, we all were emotionally affected in a major way. Or my entire theory could be wrong. I need some help here, Sigmund.
(P.S. Hide your breakables, your pets, your small children. Hurricane John has been escalated to a Category 5 because he's on two feet! He's walking! YIKES.)
3 comments:
Yo Freud,
Sounds like you analyzed this one to the hilt, and reached a half way decent conclusion. Ann and Em
will grow up to be as well-adjusted as you. Lord help us!!
Love you. The Old Broad Next Door
Yep, I think the hurricane has everything to do with it. Even if you think they weren't paying attention they most certainly heard the phrases 'lost their homes' and 'trying to find missing family members'. Those phrases have been repeated over and over again.
You hit the nail on the head, sista.
I'm no Freud, either, but I love to pyschoanalyze myself, friends, and family, and I think you're right about your daughters being affected by the news about Katrina. Even if you scrupulously avoided all TV, they still would see the images of the kids on the magazine covers at every checkstand. Not to mention that they're probably seeing Katrina survivors at school and in your community.
I'm sure it's difficult for them to articulate their feelings, but just being there for them is probably all you need to do.
Congratulations on the walking! (I think!)
Post a Comment