ABSTRACT

This chapter describes the changing relationship between a mother and her young child following mother's pregnancy and the birth of a second baby. It is based on the observations of a 2-year-old girl presented to a Young Child Observation seminar. The characteristics of the private space that Lucia required with the observer and the functions that the observer performed for Lucia and her family require further exploration. A child confronted with mother's new pregnancy can feel mother's lap as insufficient to provide a space for him. The relationship that develops between the observer and the child plays an important role in sustaining the child and family's psychic equilibrium as they go through the terrific change represented by the birth of the new baby. The child looks towards the father to become an ideal source of gratification. The child permits the father to have a particular role, in the sense that father's care can be requested or refused as can mother's.