Freud_Burlingham_1943_War_and_Children_k_text

older children three and four years of age.During the last month we entered into a newphase of the parent-child relationship. Thechildren were still very pleased to see theirparentsbut the time spent with them was notas greatly valued as before.For example, Beverly's parents say: "Shehardly talks to us when we take her out for awalk and whenever she sees another child shewants torun and play with her".Rosemary's mother will sit for hours on endon her visiting days and never say a word.Rosemary dutifully stands next to her and remainsas silent as her mother. As soon as hermother is gone, she revives and returns to herusual activity and endless talking. David whoreceives visits from his mother very often runsback to the other children afterwards as if hewere afraid of having missed too much.All this is of course the natural process ofshifting affection and interest which is so wellknown in children of boarding school age.BertieThe child for whom the loss of his parentshas had the most serious consequences isboy of now four and a half years.a littleBertie's father was killed while workingduring an air-raid in the course of the autumnraids on London. His mother had had a com-124