Freud_Burlingham_1943_War_and_Children_k_text

cause of th 'e months every visit of her mother waspanied by floods of tears. Her develop-about fa*•< .i£ was arrested through her concentrationon her longing, her disappointments and hervarying moods of stubbornness and depression.She entered in July and began at last to settledown about Christmas time. She began totransfer her affections, to be gay and to start allsorts of interests. In January she paid a longvisit to her mother and was very pleasant withher fortwo days.But when her mother asked her on the thirdafternoon whether she would rather stay anothernight or return to the nursery, she said,politely, and sensibly: "Don't you think, mummy,it would be better if we went homeagain"Home in that case, of course referred to thenursery.Not every child expresses matters so clearlyas Mary. But even if the parents are overpossessiveand nothing is done on the side ofthe nursery to fan the mother's jealousy,this situation must be nearly unbearable formothers with a real attachment to their children.Fears of losing the child completely in thisway are often the reason why mothers makesudden decisions to give up work and taketheir children home.At the present moment no one can quite de-63