She was over 40 with dreadlocks. She was wearing a black, puffy winter coat and having a terrible time with a stroller. A doll stroller filled with three American Girl bitty dolls. Two were dressed like twin girls. The third? Hard to tell. But all three were in warm winter garb. And she clearly believed these were her children. She lovingly loosened their jackets and scarves so they would be comfortable on the warm bus, and then bundled them back up before exiting. She was so careful not to jostle them too much as she maneuvered the stroller on or off the bus.What's going on in that mind of hers? Did she lose a baby herself once and is unable to move on? Was she unable to bear a child of her own? Is that how she became unhinged?
There was no shame in her behavior. Nor was she drawing attention to herself. She was just trying to care for three babies as she traveled up Harlem Avenue on a winter's day.
I knew a woman with a similar problem. She claimed that she knew the "baby" wasn't real, but just taking care of it helped lower her blood pressure. She also signed its name on her Christmas cards and took it, carseat and all, everwhere she went.
ReplyDeleteI guess you do what you have to do to cope.
This is quite sad. Although not normal, if it makes her happy....
ReplyDelete