My 12- 1/2 year old son, the most eccentric and creative of our three children, had a crying spell. Given his age it is difficult to discern between what is “normal” emotional, pre-pubescent melancholy and possible signs of mental illness. I do not want to jump to conclusions, but on the other hand I must stay vigilante.
I was reading Vanity Fair in bed when he popped in. It was obvious that he had been crying and wanted to talk. I invited him to come be with me. “Why are you so sad? Was someone unkind to you?” Son: “No, I don’t know why I’m sad. I just feel like crying.” I: “I know how you feel. I get sad sometimes, too. It’s very normal to have those feelings once in a while.” Father: “What isn’t normal is when one stays in that state for a long time.” I could see that my husband was having a bit of difficulty wrapping his analytical mind around the revelation, but I knew exactly how our son felt. Father: “Can you describe how you feel?” After thinking a moment or two our son said, “Well, it’s kind of the feeling like when dust settles. Stagnate, unchanging.” (Sounds like the Waiting Place, see earlier post)
I really hope that he doesn’t take after me in the mental health department.
