Freud_Burlingham_1943_War_and_Children_k_text

Michael, two years and one month old, whois the greatest eater in the toddler's room wouldnot take any food at home.Norman's mother reported that she had toget up at four A.M. to make toast for him becausehe said continuously and monotonously:"I want my toast, I want my toast, I want mytoast".Kenneth, three years old, was quite contentwith his mother for one day. He got restlessthe next morning, seemed more and more disturbedin the course of the day and then towardsevening said very decidedly: "And nowI want to go home again to my Nelsa (Use, thenursery superintendent)and my nice bath".It is naturally a bitter experience for themothers, that after half ayear's absence, thesesmall children shift their affections and theirloyalties, call the nursery their home and behaveas strangers or as guests with their ownparents.We try to help this situation to the best ofour ability by putting no restrictions on thevisits of the parents. Still,nothing can alter thefact that children of this age can only feel fullyat home in one place and will turn their affectionto the people who handle them day by day.It iseasier for the mother to maintain her relationshipto the child unbroken than it is forthe child to do the same. But just because the153