Talk:Paulina Longworth

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[edit] Alice's Impact on Paulina Longworth

• For me, the most disappointing aspect in the life of Paulina Longworth's mother, Alice Roosevelt Longworth, is that she didn't seem to understand fully the role of a mother in nurturing and helping to protect the development of a child. Nor did she understand the negative consequences of not taking a more active role and interest in her child's growth. No nurse, friend, nanny is an effective substitute for a loving mother.

Alice was just too busy with an exciting life to be pre-occupied with a daughter and, unfortunately, Paulina's life was forever negatively affected. Also, Alice did not seem to understand how one of her own offspring could not be almost in her litteral image and likeness. Where Alice was outgoing, Paulina was retiring. Where Alice was extroverted, Paulina was introverted. Psychologically, they would seem to have had nothing in common at all in outlook.

How much of the difference in Paulina was caused by Alice's dominant personality is open for many interpretations. Certainly, many of Alice's friends and relatives have recorded that Alice was unable to not dominate Paulina and not to be put off by the differences.

So interesting, then the different approach to Alice's granddaughter, Joanna Sturm. Was the their much better relationship due to the two people having more in common psychologically, or was it because Alice, herself, had grown emotionally into an understanding of the mistakes made in raising Paulina? Or was it a combination of both?

In my own case, I feel more akin to some of my children due to psychological similiarities than some of the others. It's not a question of worth or value, but commonality of disposition and outlook.

What do you think? SimonATL 00:21, 15 April 2006 (UTC)