As a child, I assumed all mothers were only affectionate on their terms, when others could see it, when they needed the affection. I figured that was just the way it went, as the child, I needed to be available to cuddle and things when my mother was having one of her bad days and the rest of the time, well, I should be able to stand on my own two feet. I recently had a conversation with a friend and the topic of differing childhoods came up. The friend admitted that it was hard, given the relationship she had with her parents, grandparents, etc for her to wrap her head around the idea that parents would treat their children in such a way. On my end, I couldn't ever fathom that parents, other adults, could be good and caring to their children. I admitted that there was a feeling of something akin to jealousy that would bubble up when I saw (see) other people and their good family relationships. But it's not quite jealousy, because I don't hate those people for having ...