Elena S. (IEE) about dislike of limited choices or freedom

I spent most of my time with my grandmother, and she had a very difficult personality. She would reprimand me, and I was always outside under her supervision — I never went out alone. I wasn’t allowed to run around or play in places where she couldn’t call out to me.

I had to respond or show myself after a certain amount of time: “Grandma, I’m here.” The boys and girls would run off somewhere, but I wasn’t allowed to. It was sad, upsetting, when I couldn’t go with someone to run around or play something because it was out of her line of sight. I longed for freedom. A child like that really needs freedom.