Re: Shutdown

[Guest guest]

> When Putter does look at me, he is much more strongly there

> than any of my other children. When he lets you make eye contact

> with him, it is almost impossible to quit looking. So much more of

> him seems to be present in his eyes than in anyone else that I

> know. Perhaps this is why he risks it so seldomly? Has anyone

> else ever noticed this? >>

I remember a time when was about 4, he used to love to rough

house; we would spend lots of time " tickling " as he called (actually

lots of deep pressure, but I guess that's how it felt to him). One

day, he just couldn't seem to get enough...kept pulling my hands

back. I decided to just watch him closely and see how he would do.

At a certain point, he suddenly stopped cold, took a long, deep

breath, and got incredibly calm. He lay there, studying my face with

incredible intensity. I watched him, and honestly, he looked as if

he had never seen my face before in his life. I think that he was

just at a place where his sensory organization was really good....and

in that moment, he could " see " me. I wonder if that is what

happens...they have these moments of clarity where their visual

processing is working very well, and they can really take it all in?

When I was reading " Exposure Anxiety " , I was struck by her comments

about faces, and how hard they are to remember...because they are

always moving and changing.

From time to time, will give me that look again...and yes,

it's a very dramatic, intense moment.

Raena

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 5/4/03 9:48:24 AM Eastern Daylight Time, njm6262@...

writes:

> So much more of him seems to be present in his eyes than in anyone else that

> I know. Perhaps this is why he risks it so seldomly? Has anyone else ever

> noticed this?

Not here. Here eye contact is only when 1) forced or 2) she is being so

naughty that she must make eye contact to make sure I am paying attention.