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Judy Blume's Childhood Anxiety Revealed
15 May
Summary
- Blume feared for her father's life around age 43.
- She made ritualistic bargains with God for his safety.
- Her father died at 54, shortly before her wedding.
In "Judy Blume: A Life," author Mark Oppenheimer examines the early life and anxieties of the acclaimed writer. Blume recalled intense worry about her father's health, especially as he neared the age of 43, an age that had claimed two of his brothers. This concern led her to develop rituals and make desperate bargains with God, believing she could ensure his survival through her actions and prayers.
These childhood fears and bargaining experiences were later woven into her famous works, including "Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret." Despite her efforts, Blume's father, Rudy Sussman, passed away from a heart attack at 54 in July 1959, just before her wedding. Oppenheimer notes that this loss highlighted the failure of her childhood pacts with the divine. Blume also reflected on her mother's more severe anxiety struggles later in life, contrasting them with her own managed childhood fears.
