Freud_Burlingham_1943_War_and_Children_k_text

Christine, on the other hand was brought twoor three days previous to her mother's confinementand left at once and completely thoughshe had never before left her mother's side andhad evidently been taken care of very well byher mother. She found herself unexpectedly incompletely strange surroundings to which shereacted in a most bewildered way.For days she sat or stood around quietly orcrying and would only at intervals say:Mum".She did it in a surprisingly deep voice."Mum,Similarly to Jill, but again in a completelydifferent manner, she would sometimes stretchout her arms to visitors. She was at times contentwhen she could sit on somebody's lap withher face averted. Probably she imagined herselfin this position to be sitting on her mother'slap without being disturbed by the sightof a strange face.She fell ill about a week after her arrivaland reacted during her illness with apathy andIistlessness. In the last week, when she wasgradually getting better in the sickroom shewas at last reported to have smiled and evenjoined in play with other children.Again, these descriptions show that it isnot the task of separation from the mother itselfwhich is impossible to accomplish for thesmall child. The decisive factor for the normal113