Cape Town based Babies in Mind practitioner, Carly Abramowitz, says the following about trust.

“We often speak about the importance of trust between a child and caregiver. But what does trust really look and feel like to a child? I recently came across this wonderful passage while I was re-reading one of my favourite books, The Book Thief, which has now been made into a movie. It refers to Liesel’s first few weeks in her new foster home. She wakes up each night screaming from nightmares and each night her foster father comes into her room to sit with her.

‘He came in every night and sat with her. The first couple of times he simply stayed – a stranger to kill the aloneness. A few nights after that, he whispered, ‘Shh, I’m here, it’s all right’. After three weeks, he held her. Trust was accumulated quickly, due primarily to the brute strength of the man’s gentleness, his thereness. The girl knew from the outset that he’d always appear mid-scream, and he would not leave.’

*** A DEFINITION NOT FOUND IN THE DICTIONARY***

Not-leaving: An act of trust and love, often deciphered by children.

Although this is by no means a complete definition of trust, it picks up on something true and basic that resides within all of us. And perhaps this is its appeal. Often, parents I work with make comments about how the things we speak about seem obvious and natural to them but just needed to be re-awakened or re-remembered. We are all wired to form trusting, secure relationships. Babies in Mind helps caregivers to think about their babies and young children so that a loving, trusting relationship can be established in those early years. It cannot be overstated how important this is.”

Contact Carly for an appointment at 0823443452 or carlydan66@gmail.com.