Behind a newspaper, only visible from knees to feet, responding with a grunt to the cry of 'Look Daddy!' as the child places another brick on the tower; telling him what not to do, how to behave; demanding that he cease his crying, calm his fury, be a man – bewildered by such weakness; ordering to bed on the dot of seven with a firm 'Goodnight'; assuming, without thought, the role his father had played, because father's father had played it.
This chain has to be broken – must be!
Down on the carpet, insinuated between the furniture, repeating with delight the cry of 'Well done!' as the child places yet another piece in the jigsaw; offering options, guiding behaviour; soothing hurt, wiping away tears, giving comfort – understanding of childhood distress; luring upstairs with the promise of a bedtime story; adopting, after reflection, a role far different from that of his father.
The chain is at last broken – praise be!
Helen Bellamy Helen Bellamy is a SOF trustee.