Vulnerability

There’s an amazing immediacy about a baby. I was watching my 1 year-old nephew yesterday and every passing feeling gets expressed. Danny likes something he reaches for it, he smiles, his eyes light up. Danny feels bad he pouts, he screams, he sobs. No censorship. Full spontaneity. I’m guessing its an artifact of vulnerability. A baby has no defence but to make its needs and desires known–loudly, clearly, immediately.
In contrast, Becky, his sister, about to hit five, is all misdirection. She is torn between withdrawn sulking because Danny has presents and wild attention-seeking. Where along the line do we learn to be so indirect? So vulnerably invulnerable?

One reply on “Vulnerability”

  1. “Where along the line do we learn to be so indirect? So vulnerably invulnerable?”

    Sometimes in the home, sometimes beyond. Sometimes not at all, depending on the culture we are raised in.

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