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Writing
to parents:
“Looking
at the emotional context of your child’s life opens up a whole
new way of seeing and feeling what both of you are doing.
For example, so much is involved in even the simplest game.
Peekaboo can be rich with possibilities. Consider this: A
round of peekaboo doesn’t just happen. Someone has to start
it. At first, you did, of course. But why? What were you feeling
when you started this intimate little game? Playful? Irritated
and needing to distract yourself with a little magic? In need
of some reassurance that you matter to the little guy? That
you will always “be there for him” when the hands open over
the eyes? That we will “always be there for you?” Once it
is started, then what? How long do you play? You have to read
your child’s response. If it’s fun, you’ll both keep at it.
If not, at least one of you will quit. Do you still try to
reconnect and save the game? Your child’s reaction matters
as much as yours. This is a short list of what could be at
work here, but there is always something. And the emotional
“something” matters a great deal, because that is how the
event gets remembered. The way it feels to be together and
how both feel is that togetherness matters every bit as much
as the child’s neuromuscular ability to open and close his
eyes at will, smile, make eye contact, blow spittle bubbles,
or giggle. This will only make sense to you if you understand
that your child can feel many things long before he can tell
you in words, and that understanding emotional milestones
benefits both of you enormously.” Source:
Pruett, Kyle. Me, Myself and I (1999), “The Importance of
Being Two” pp. 10-11. Goddard Press, New York.
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