Dear Inky:
Thank you, Inky. The habit of the mind is such that as I saw that I had a response on my thread my first thought was that I was going to be attacked for what I posted. Fear was my first reaction. Then I read and was relieved to read “hugs”- what a relief that was.

I am … afraid this is not only me, Inky. I think every child experiences this. The stories vary, the how and exactly when and such differ. But that innocence is hurt and when it hurts, it hurts badly.

As to the loving nature of a child, was the child loved first in some way before being loving, the point in your comment: I think it is genetic, an emotion we are born with as the social animals that we are, in particular a child is born with the genetic need to love the mother, the caretaker in order to survive.

anita