The Cricket Story

A Collection of
Thoughts on Hugging
by Marcia Walthers

The cave man did it for survival. That could be where hugging started, before humankind learned how to use fire in order to keep warm. But wait, I'm sure Adam and Eve hugged each other. But was it cold in the Garden of Eden? Did they need to snuggle together to keep warm? (Well, there's a question for God.)

Babies do it by reflex. We all know they do this without thinking, they grab onto a finger that is placed in the palm of their tiny little hand and squeeze. That startle reflex always concerned me. Those little arms flinging wildly into the air trying to grab onto something familiar. I always hated it when I disturbed a sweetly sleeping baby. There would go those arms, grasping. I just want to pick them up and cuddle them and say I'm sorry.

Animals do it by instinct. Newborn kitties and puppies are all over each other immediately following birth. It wasn't until I was 49 that I witnessed the birth of a friend's kittens. (My friend didn't have the kittens, her cat did, duh!) What a neat experience to see those kittens hugged into the world. And then there's the prairie dog. When a pup is born the mother must stimulate its breathing. The pup is attracted to the warmth of its mother and this interchange quickly forms a social bond, helping to ensure the pup's survival. When it is time to emerge from its burrow, other prairie dogs handle it similarly. The family unit stands strong through nurture. Wow, could we use this example in today's world!

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