Meimei had been telling me about her bestie called Sesana for many moons, since Shazminta left the school. I didn't worry or thought anything wrong at first but as the days go by, the stories she tells me are getting more and more weirdy and outrageous. Like Sesana comes from Bangladesh (which is a bit surprising, but still normal), that she has swimming classes every Fri, Sat and Sun (sounds to me, a bit too kwacheong) and the latest one, that she has relatives/ friends working in a circus and she knows how to do a lot of stuffs like juggling. Not weird enough ah? To me, it is.
So I decided to check on this wonder little girl called Sesana (which I thought was Suzanna at first) but the teacher told me in a raised eyebrow no (with the are-you-nuts?-look) and think left think right also can't relate to any child called Sesana in the school. Going home, I was feeling uncomfortable, in fact, VERY!
When I picked her up, I decided to double check with another teacher (you know, maybe the teacher is really nuts), and she confirms to me that there's no such person. My eyes went big. The first thing that come into my mind "Eek! Schizophrenia ke?"
This is so freaking me out. Though the teacher tried to console me that it's just normal for children to have imaginary friends. Especially for only child. Like, even though meimei has 2 brothers, but there aren't any sisters to grow up with, hence she made up a bestie called Sesana for herself.
I guess I could relate to that. Being the only daughter myself, I used to feel lonely when I was young too, as the 2 brothers often kicked me aside to a corner, not letting me in in whatever they were playing or doing. But I couldn't remember I had a significant imaginary friend, since there were many many children and cousins in my neighborhood to play with everyday.
Anyway, calming myself down, I tried to make out some senses behind...
1. Maybe I hadn't been spending much time with her playing or doing something together, just with her. I do feel guilty that most of my time, often I stress more on the boys, thinking that she's just doing fine, as she's always so bubbly and happy. I thought it was normal when she's playing "role play", as a teacher in a class or dancing class, ordering her "students" (teddy bears and Barbie dolls) around. Sometimes it's "family", sometimes it's "teabreaks". Perhaps, maybe just perhaps, there's really noone to play with her. *sob*
2. She's not making friends in school? This, I'm really not very sure, but according to the teacher's feedbacks, she's having fun and mixing around pretty well. Or could it be, she's not really as happy as she seems to be? Oh dear... *hangs head down*
3. Or perhaps, I am worrying too much? That girls her age are common to be having imaginary friends? A teacher in her school told me one girl has been talking to Jippy and Puni for the longest time. Once the girl went downstairs all by herself and told her parents that her 2 friends were waiting for her. *major freaked out*
Well, now that I know Sesana does not exist, I don't even know if I should stop her imagination or let it flourish. After getting some advice, yeah, I think the right thing to do is to tell her what is story and what is real. Perhaps she really thinks that story telling like this is FUN, or talking to me like this is FUN.
Just now, before tucking her in bed, I read her a book, and before that, I had a little chat with her, telling her before she tells me any story that she made up herself, she must let me know that's the case and shouldn't be mixing fantasies and real events together. She nodded her head, and *whew* I hope this won't develop too far to a serious case of schizophrenia. ("A Beautiful Mind" playing in my head)
8 comments:
Truth be told! Relieve now? hopefully the next story she tells you she will remember to tell you ahead that it's an imaginary one.
dawn,
yeah, but is it a relief? I dunno, i hope so.
But the earlier story abt the clip, oh yes, I checked with the girl, it was very real. She did give that to meimei and I nicely tell her to accept it back and there's no need to give her anything. Now that one was a relief.
I feel more guilty than relieved actually, that perhaps I'm not playing with her that much, perhaps she really longs for someone to play with together. Another "meimei" is the answer? *gasp*
you know i have a sis, but my sis only plays with me for a while. i think its the age gap - 3 years. i hang out with my bro the most playing in the mud, drain, climb trees. i hardly play dolls, and i have to admit now i did have an imaginary friend but that quickly went away after i was in std 5 i think. i don't "talk" but "talking" in the head. know what i mean? lagi worse. I think that's why i think so much now. hey you got my email?
really, i have no idea young girl can have imaginary friend,like meimei does ...that's very interesting to know.
dawn,
your imaginary friend how one? "talking in the head"... i think i do that too, don't you? it's the normal thing to do wud..
oh yes, i replied your email, did you get my reply?
munyee,
well, maybe not all girls qua. i dunno, boys got anot? hearsay calvin also got an imaginary tiger pet.
I watch on TV that children do have imaginary friends and that it is quite common. However, could it be that there is really a girl who likes to call herself Sesana and asks your daughter to call her by her preferred name Sesana although it is not her given name. If that is the case, then the teachers will not know about it. I know many of my friends have names that are chosen by themselves (does not appear on their IC). Can you ask her to introduce you to Sesana at school one day?
mun,
too late now, i think sesana "died" jor liao... *gasp* (7/14 chinese calendar today! choi! choi! choi!)
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