“Larry got lost in Chicago” is one of our favourite bedtime stories. It is about a puppy called Larry separated from his owner Pete at the train station! The theme of the story is about the two of them trying to find one another. It is at “the Bean” (see the photo) where they see each other’s reflection and are reunited.
Our boy loves this story. He is at the phase of asking many questions. What is a pup? Why no ketchup in a hotdog? Why is the taxi on a boat? Have we been to Mckenzi street? Why does Larry go the other direction? Then, he would tell me in a serious voice, “Don’t leave me at the station! Don’t let others take me!”
The first time when I heard this, my heart sank! A 3-year-old knows fear. In a crowded city like Hong Kong, trying to navigate in a train station can be a nightmare. We have done this thousand times in the last four and a half years being in the city. It never occurred to me that our boy would be feeling nervous about something that is supposed to be a normal part of our daily life. Don’t get me wrong; he loves trains. He likes to look at the tracks, reading the signs, repeating the announcements (especially the one on ‘no eating and drinking’!). He likes to imitate us by holding the handrail by himself. But the thought of being left behind and getting lost in a station, without my knowing, has developed into a real fear in his mind.
For a young child, many little things can freak them out. It can be a change of routine in a morning, a sudden visit by an overseas friend, or a delay in downloading a favourite Disney movie! As an adult, I try to juggle to keep a fairly balanced home, work and personal life. I have my own strategies and resources. For a young child, resources and strategies are limited. He relies on me (and other loving adults in his life) to build a sense of trust and dependence. I am reminded once again to do a better job at building a safe perimeter around his little world, to ensure his routine is simple and consistent, and to give him time to play. Play is an important way for him to explore and to make sense of his world. I look forward to the days when we can discuss the issues of this world, the possible life form in the outer space, and ultimately, his hope and dreams. To get there, I need to build these little steps today.