http://oliverstravels.wordpress.com/2009/05/18/32-times/ tiny adventures in a big world Mon, 07 Dec 2009 02:18:07 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 http://oliverstravels.wordpress.com/2009/05/18/32-times/#comment-172 Ya-Ya Sun, 24 May 2009 17:08:07 +0000 http://oliverstravels.wordpress.com/?p=1556#comment-172 My thought about this is that Oliver is in a particular developmental stage - it is most reasonable for him to want to be reassured that all is well by confirming (and reconfirming) the familiar both before and after a period of asserted independence. Momma is inevitably that touchstone. As I recall, the "terrible twos" are really a series of about 4-6 month periods alternating between seemingly fearless reaching out to new and scary experiences, and a seemingly pitiable reaching back to be certain that the old security regime hasn't been lost. Parents of course, alternate between fear that the new will bring harm, and frustration that the retreat is a permanent developmental regression. Parents need to remember that both stages are essential to moving forward. My thought about this is that Oliver is in a particular developmental stage – it is most reasonable for him to want to be reassured that all is well by confirming (and reconfirming) the familiar both before and after a period of asserted independence. Momma is inevitably that touchstone. As I recall, the “terrible twos” are really a series of about 4-6 month periods alternating between seemingly fearless reaching out to new and scary experiences, and a seemingly pitiable reaching back to be certain that the old security regime hasn’t been lost. Parents of course, alternate between fear that the new will bring harm, and frustration that the retreat is a permanent developmental regression. Parents need to remember that both stages are essential to moving forward.

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