A need that may escape us, especially when we are very busy and have a life full of “responsibilities” and activies. The need for presence.
A short story from Marshall Rosenberg’s life illustrates this.
One time my son Rick — he was about six — was sitting on my couch next to me during the height of my private practice days when I was busy, busy, busy. I always had a close loving relationship with my children, but they grew up in too much awareness of my busy-ness and not enough of my accessibility.
He was sitting on the couch next to me. I became aware that he’d been there for over an hour not watching television or anything. I asked him why he wasn’t outside playing. He said, “I just like to be with you Dad.” Shortly thereafter he went out, and I started to cry and couldn’t stop.