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e^hment Disorder
'Wans boy’s aX
■ OUR OPINION: Child may
sutler from a tragic tile
changing disorder
"M»'» iuit lilui mo*t other
tt year-old boy* Ho Him hi*
Msiimcnu *mi scrape# in
school He ten be hyper,*
Mid the boy'* grandmother
recently
|u*l like moat other a
year-old boy* — except the!
thi* smiling little Rich
mond, Calif., kindergartner
allegedly broke into an
apartment with the help of
two B-year-old boy* last
week, took a sleeping t*
month-old baby out of it*
I Musi net. and proceeded to
kick, punch and beet the
infant with a stick
A* the baby lie* in critical
condition in a children's
hospital in Oakland, Calif ,
the reasons for the attack
only add to the bizarre
nature of the incident: the 6
!'ear-old believed the beby's
amiiy had harassed him
and looked at him the
wrong way. so he do< ided
he had to kill the baby
A* California corrections
officials try to figure out just
what to do with the boy, it
appear* a convincing expla
nation for the boy** action*
is being overlooked.
From the report* we have
seen, the boy has all the tell
tale sign* of a child who suf
fer* from Attachment
Disorder, Before Attachment
Disorder is defined, we
should qmckly explain what
"attachment" is.
Attachment, and the
behaviors that go with it. is
merely the seeking and
maintaining of closeness to
another human in an aggres
sive manner In thi* context,
attachment behavior is the
necessary physical and psy
chological interaction
bet town an tnfant and it*
primary caregivw — usually
the mother
If a child dent* not iuc
ctiufully complete the
stage* of the Attachment
Uh Cycle (one that include*
a behy having it* beak
need* met) in its first tern
yean of life, the child can
suffer neurological damage
(due to lack of stimuli) to
the mid-brain When this
happens, huge are** of the
brain fail to develop ade
quate skills for taking in
information about the
child's surroundings, for
processing and compre
hending that information
and for planning appropri
ate responses to that infor
mation.
In essence, if an infant
fails to attach to its mother
or some other person, the
child will most likely suffer
from severe biological,
chemical and psychological
problems
Some of the information
now coming out on this boy
roads like a case file on a
child with Attac hment Dis
order.
“This young man is very
angry (and] he should not be
released." a deputy district
attorney in Marti ties. Calif,,
said. At the hearing, the boy
hugged his grandparents but
ignored his mother.
Mb's in the middle of
being raised in a chaotic
family setting by a some
times there mother and a
grandmother convicted of
possessing cocaine two
years ago
This »• year-old is not like
most others But instead of
getting locked up. he should
tie given a second chance at
life through professional
counseling and love.
7W !o x - .
£JU* ft# M(* TbCtTXui flfrj
Everybody get naked — it’s springtime
Ahhhh springtime in hogene The mer
cury should neech 70 today with a
slight htw»» and a few lazy clouds
hanging around
ll |u»t doesn't get much better than this If you
tan. try and spend the nest few minutes enjoy
ing it all
Slop what you're doing Whatever it is —
reading, taking note*, personal hygiene — any
thing Taka a break and get outside
?
run up mm» h*v« «
Ml t don't «r«n about your
•hurt« the ground i* dry) and
lake a deep breath Knellv.
Sut k up m mud) oxygen m
you out. end lot your mind
wander through ever) thought
that harm* Think about what
make* this time of yoar mo
damn ak» for you
Make it pureonal, you
OPTION
owbv# it Kemamnar. you ve bmn trudging
•round to boots *nd slickers through • prnvw
hial sheath of rain for the last nine month*
Take a moment to reflect on the sunshine that
•wait* you
For am. springtime is •bout regeneration
Finding a newborn litter of kitten* Watching
them suckle on then mother * taet «* *he lick*
their ears, brushes their corn*, and guard* their
safety She * w*wy of stranger* and joyouM of
the rum life that has sprung from her womb
That's springtime
It's about the miracle of life. Going to a gro
cery atom, finding a pregnant woman and rub
bing bet stomach Asking her how long she’s
lawn with child Has she had an ultrasound?
Will it be a boy or a girl? That's springtime
It's about light A trade bet been made. The
cold has switched to warmth; the short days
have turned to endlaasly lit nights That's
springtime
It's about apparel. Replacing yet another pair
of sung!areas you lost during winter. Ousting
off the shorts that were stored away It's about
legs that have been mummified in leans and
thermals Don't worry, everyone vise's
appendages look aa sun deprived a* yours
That's springtime
It's about dresses Watching a flowing spring
lime skirt peas before you. This is the kind of
cotton that breathes better then wine. That's
springtime
It's about the sky. like a snake, it has shed a
gray lever, only to reveal its beautiful blue akin
oeneeth That's springtime
It's about correspondence Hugging your par
ants when they come to visit Telling your dad
you love him because you haven't said so for a
while Writing your friend a letter instead of
sending e-mail. That's springtime.
fit
It s about dre sits Watching a flowing
springtime skirt pass btforr sou. This is the
kind of cotton that breathes belter than wine.
That's springtime
99
It's About spontaneity. Picking a flower and
putting it behind your ear Going to class and
forgetting that the blossom in still there Making
a i Diwtwni in front of everyone and wondaring
why all aye* are staring at your head That'*
springtime
lt'» about nakedness Not wearing anything
underneath your graduation gown, lumping into
bed without boxers Streaking down thirteenth
wearing only your backpack Wondering where
to hang your key* Swimming in a stream that
was only meant for you Off with the towel! Off
with the shirt! Off with the shorts! Being proud
of every finger, toe and on flee that is yours
That’s springtime
It's about going to the park Watching the kid*
seesaw back and forth It's about walking your
dog The park goars gather around to talk. Your
dog aiway* seem* to bring people together Sure
he poops a lot. but who earn*? That's spring
lime
If* about snorts Oiling your softball mitt as
you prepare for intramural intensity Canting
Cr tennis racquet restrung Tagging a golf ball
you never have before Thai s springtime
Ifs about the union of friends and laser Meet
ing your buddies on the sun bathed veranda of a
bar Drinking the ales and lagers that have
replaced stouts and porters knowing your limit
and being content to stay below it. That’s
springtime
Ifs about fishing listening to the rush of the
stream as it deafen* the surrounding environ
manl Your first cast bring* the kind erf peace
that can never be described, wily experienced
The water s tranquility silences the thoughts
within. The voice* are calmed That’s spring
Springtime is about sums*! moments. Hiking
Spencer's Butte In the evening with the one you
love Gening to the top end watching brilliant
•hade* of red. orange, pink and scarlet internum
gle Staring at the colored light as it dances
•croes her face. Giving passionate thanks that
•very day is e day spent with her
That's springtime
ke«h Cunningham, a senior mafonng in English.
is a columnist for the Emerald E mail ksl
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