Imaginary Friends

The latest data is suggesting that children who have an imaginary friend(or friends),are no more imaginative or creative than any other child. But this is disputed by many people who have themselves had such imaginary friends in their childhood. Kids today are dealing with so much. In even the happiest of families, there are so many stresses and various situations to be dealt with. Children often need, and maybe even crave, a special friend who is all their own and no one Else's.My own imaginary friend, who is now safely tucked away inside the deep folds of my childhood memory bank, but is still very much alive, was a wonderful companion for several years.

Parents are often troubled when they discover their child has an imaginary friend. It's not too big of a deal until the child starts insisting that the "friend" be included in all the family rituals and activities, such as mealtime, bath time and shopping trips. My mother was so good about it all. I'm sure that deep down she was alittle worried about my state of mind. Me being her only child and her only experience with children, it may have alarmed her some what. But she happily obliged me when I came inside for lunch and asked her to pack it up in a picnic basket, with drinks, plates and napkins for two. I would set off into the tall grass, to the warm, sun-soaked and pressed down area that was my imaginary friend's special domain. There he awaited to hear how my day was going and share stories from the world of make-believe. We planned our outings and adventures and talked happily for hours. He seldom came into the house, but said his goodbyes in the tall grass at dusk as soon as I heard mom calling out for me to come inside.

"Busy" was a grasshopper similar in appearance to this one, only as big as I was and invisible.

Credit: Repaczki Andras

Copyright: Repaczki Andras