Freud_Burlingham_1943_War_and_Children_k_text

een re-opened,excited much comment amongthe passersby. We saw mothers lift small babiesto admire it and everybody watched whilethe soldiers tied red silk ribbons to the rearof the car as a sign of danger in the case ofcollision. They sat all around it and drove offjoking and singing.When the good news that the bomb hadgone was spread in the house, we again watchedfor reactions of relief. All we could findwas an immediate desire on the part of thechildren toregain possession of the garden.Charlie, four years ten months, asked withgreat interest whether the soldiers had driventhe bomb off "in a lorry". To him the everfascinating question of transport was more outstandingthan the danger element implied.The complete reversal of all values was mostthe way our social workerdistinctly shown inmet the good news. He said : "I wish they hadleft it two days longer so that the jungle gymwould have had time todry."When the soldiers returned to fill up theempty crater they were invited to have tea inour dining room where the children met them.It was at this occasion that some of the childrenshowed definite signs of fear or anxiousness."Fear of the bomb" was quite outside therange of their infantile emotions.big man" is"Fear of thea recognised and typical childhood118