The Dory books are very well liked, even beloved, by my children. Reading them out loud, I recognized the understanding and realism with which Abby Hanlon writes about the dual worlds that children inhabit. Abby has clearly been able to, as Edward Eager once said, "access the child mind." :)
Eye-opening discussion about the layers of parental protection being peeled back and replaced by a child’s growing ability to care for themselves. Fascinating. I will buy her books today to read the author’s first person work.
My theory is that young children are acutely aware that their existence is 'new', that there is something where previously a 'nothingness' existed. They intuitively recognize and are fascinated by this step from non-being to being. They sense their parents terror of mortality and are naturally drawn to its borders. Self-preservation has not yet taken over, and so we protect them from their own desire to discover what we try to hide.
The Dory books are very well liked, even beloved, by my children. Reading them out loud, I recognized the understanding and realism with which Abby Hanlon writes about the dual worlds that children inhabit. Abby has clearly been able to, as Edward Eager once said, "access the child mind." :)
Eye-opening discussion about the layers of parental protection being peeled back and replaced by a child’s growing ability to care for themselves. Fascinating. I will buy her books today to read the author’s first person work.
My theory is that young children are acutely aware that their existence is 'new', that there is something where previously a 'nothingness' existed. They intuitively recognize and are fascinated by this step from non-being to being. They sense their parents terror of mortality and are naturally drawn to its borders. Self-preservation has not yet taken over, and so we protect them from their own desire to discover what we try to hide.
A beautiful thought, beautifully put!