LETTER TO THE 25TH CELEBRATION OF API

 

THANK YOU MOM FOR THE WARMTH OF YOUR BODY AS I EMERGED FROM YOUR WOMB!

THANK YOU FOR THE NOURISHMENT OF YOUR BREAST MILK EVEN THOUGH, AT FIRST, NURSING ME MAY HAVE BEEN PAINFUL.

THANK YOU FOR THE SMILES AND COOS AS YOU LEANED DOWN TO DIAPER ME.

THANK YOU FOR HOLDING AND ROCKING ME WHEN I WAS DISTRESSED

THANK YOU FOR THE COMFORT OF YOUR BED TO ALLAY MY FEARS, AND TO MAKE ME FEEL PROTECTED AND SECURE.

THANK YOU DAD FOR SUPPORTING MY MOM, FOR NURTURING ME AND BEING THERE WHEN MY MOM WAS AWAY FROM HOME.

THANK YOU GRANDPARENTS FOR GIVING MY PARENTS A BREAK FROM CHILD CARE.

THANK YOU MOM WHO ALWAYS HELD ME WHEN SHE GAVE ME A BOTTLE SINCE SHE COULD NOT NURSE ME.

THANK YOU PARENTS FOR ALL THE LULLABIES, THE FUNNY SOUNDS, THE PEEK A BOOS, AND THE MIRRORING OF MY RESPONSES.

THANK YOU BABY SITTER FOR NOT ABANDONING ME, AS I DID NOT WANT TO EXPERIENCE CAREGIVER ROULETTE.

THANK YOU BARBARA AND LYSA, FOR STARTING API, FOR WRITING ATTACHED AT THE HEART, AND SPREADING API CONCEPTS AROUND THE WORLD AS WELL AS LOS ANGELES' ATTACHMENT STUDY GROUP.

THANK YOU API VOLUNTEERS FOR BEING THERE WHEN MY MOM WAS STRESSED AND NEEDED GROUP SUPPORT OR INFORMATION FROM OTHER KNOWING MOMS.

THANK YOU JOHN BOWBLY AND MARY AINSWOTH FOR DEVELOPING ATTACHMENT THEORY.

THANK YOU SCIENTISTS FOR VALIDATING BOWLBY' S CLINICAL OBSERVATIONS AND ATTACHMENT THEORY WITH HARD DATA.

THANK YOU PARENTS FOR PROVIDING THE 4 PS PROTECTION FROM DANGER, ALWAYS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY, PREDICTABILITY OF ROUTINES, AND PLAYFUL INTERACTION.

THANK YOU FOR TEACHING ME TO TRUST.

THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO FEEL MY CUP AS HALF FULL RATHER THEN HALF EMPTY.

THANK YOU FOR PREPARING ME TO LEARN IN SCHOOL, FORM LOVING RELATIONSHIPS AND FIND COMFORT IN OTHER ADULTS WHEN l'M UNDER STRESS.

THANK YOU, FOR SHOWING, BY EXAMPLE, HOW TO BE A LOVING PARENT WHEN l'M OLDER.

THANK YOU MOM AND DAD FOR BEING THERE, FOR YOUR EFFORTS. PARENTING CAN BE TEDIOUS, BORING, OR ENRAGING, ESPECIALLY WHEN l'M HAVING A MELTDOWN.

AND, FINALLY, THANK YOU FOR MAKING ME FEEL SECURE WITH THE STRENGTH TO HANDLE THE UPS AND DOWNS OF LIFE AND THE COURAGE TO EXPLORE THE WORLD!!!"

 

I THINK THIS YOUNG CHILD APPRECIATED, AS I DO, THE ENORMOUS VALUE OF API, AND THE PROFOUND IMPACT IT HAS HAD ON YOUNG FAMILIES.

AGAIN, I THANK YOU FOR THIS MOST GENEROUS AWARD!!!!

 

BEST WISHES,

ISABELLE FOX