Recognizing Signs of Strong Attachment | Episode 9
Episode 9: From Autism Diagnosis to College Freshman
Recognizing signs of strong attachment.
Within the Village Engagement Matrix™, children in the Seedling Stage (Pre-K–2nd grade) are developing confidence, perseverance, and a stronger sense of who they are, while parents and caregivers are in Architect Phase I, helping children develop emotional awareness, confidence, and connection.
In Episode 9, we discuss one of my favorite examples of strong attachment and how children sometimes express connection in ways we may not immediately recognize.
After his father and I divorced, my son would occasionally walk up to me, place his finger on me, and say,
“Stuck to you.”
It took me a while to understand what he meant.
Eventually, I learned the phrase came from an episode of Doc McStuffins in which baby possums became separated from their mother when the Velcro on her back came loose.
Once Doc fixed the Velcro, the babies could stay connected and wouldn’t get lost.
That was my son’s way of telling me that we belonged together.
Today, as an Oak Tree, that expression of attachment is still part of our relationship.
More than a decade later, he will occasionally walk up, place his finger on me, smile, and say, “Stuck to you.”
Through the lens of the Village Engagement Matrix™, this episode illustrates the importance of paying attention to how children communicate connection.
Strong attachment does not always look the way we expect it to look.
Sometimes it reveals itself in the language, symbols, and experiences that are meaningful to the child.
❤️🌰🌱🌿🌳
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