He’s strapped into the car seat.
He’s strapped into the pusher.
He’s pushed around.
He’s left strapped in his pusher in various places whilst they do what they want to do.
Some of the day passes and he’s still strapped in his pusher.
He eats and sleeps strapped in his pusher.
For a short moment or two he’s removed from his pusher whilst his nappy is changed.
Then he’s put straight back into his pusher.
He’s left again strapped in his pusher as they carry on doing more things.
More of the day passes as he remains strapped in his pusher.
He eats more, sleeps more, cries more – still strapped in his pusher.
Then he’s taken out of his pusher and strapped back into the car seat.
Finally he’s at home, the straps come off, and he’s allowed to be free… but only for a little while.
The little babies and toddlers that come to the Fishing Park stay strapped in their pushers (or strollers) for hours at a time.
During our most crucial forming time in life, a time when we need continual affection and hands on attention and care, we’re left alone, denied it, stuck in our prams, pushers and strollers. And we grow up being told we are loved, loved by our all-caring parents. We learn that rejection, abandonment, frustration, anger and boredom is feeling loved. The straps never being entirely removed.
And so it goes on.
The next day we then strap our child back into the car seat…
