throughout my childhood I latched on to various adults outside of my parents. The first one was a primary school teacher when I was five or six. I remember waiting by the door before she left for the day (and the late class began with someone else) and I would rush to hug her and ask her to stay. I was obsessed with her.
later, I latched on to an older neighbour in her sixties and I would spend every evening with her from the age of 11 to 14. I was desperate to be around her and she was my main focus in life.
theres been other people along the way too, for shorter durations. But almost like I was looking for an anchor. I have had a terrible time in my twenties with relationships and fear of being alone and only now in my thirties am I starting to recognise i did some strange things growing up. Could this have been a response to trauma? Does every child develop attachments like this?