Freud_Burlingham_1943_War_and_Children_k_text

whether this was the way in which she hadreacted already to difficulties in her formerlife.The hope that Jill with her outgoing mannerwould soon attach herself exclusively to someadult person in the house was not fulfilled.Her interest seemed to turn first to one of theworkers in the nursery itself but before a realattachment was formed she suddenly developeda great liking for our nurse and clung to herwith unexpected affection. But also this attachmenthad no time to ripen. Jill suddenlyshowed a decided preference for men, turnedto all male visitors, claimed other children'sdaddies loudly as her own and would on eveningsor Sunday afternoon sit for hours on avisitor's or fire watcher's lap, much to themen's embarrassment. Her attitude was littleinfluenced by visits from her mother who cameat times and took her out for walks. Her preferencefor men would indicate that her af-had turned from her mother to her fa-fectionther; but when, during her stay with us, herfather suddenly appeared on army leave, shedid not appear to treat him differently fromother visitors.Something had evidently gone completelywrong in her relations with the grown-upworld.Her outstanding symptom was the continualabandoning of people she was attached110