Age Question

[clockworkgirl21]

Well, I don't think Aleksey was expected to live until he was five or six. When he was younger, it seemed like Aleksandra was just waiting for him to die suddenly within seconds. When he got older, I think they calmed down a little bit. Especially since Aleksandra said she would be sorry to have to give her jewels to Aleksey's wife when he got married.

[lexi4]

I don't think Alexandra was "waiting for him to die." No parent does that. I think that she was quite afraid he would die.

[clockworkgirl21]

I didn't mean waiting as in she was hoping he would die. Of course not. I just meant that she was certain he would die and was just waiting, knowing it would happen.

[Sarai_Porretta]

When he got older, I think they calmed down a little bit.

Someone once posted on the forum that Alexandra seemed less worried or obsessed about Alexei when he was older, and even after Rasputin was dead. They said this is why she decided to leave him to the care of his sisters when leaving Tobolsk, which would have been unthinkable for her before. This is not to say that she cared any less about her son, but I do wonder why she felt less worried about him as he got older? Could it be because she thought the older he got the less likely he would be to get into dangerous situations (as opposed to a reckless little toddler or child)? Was she just worn out from constant worrying and more resigned to whatever fate had in store?

[RissiaSunbeam1918]

Yeah, my guess would be he could understand it better when he was older, and although he was a wild child at times, he would understand what might come of his falling down or something.

Also when he was younger, and couldnt walk a lot, you know how kids toddle around and fall over a lot? When he was small, he could kill himself that way...

Hey, does anybody thing it might be because her brother fell out a window when he was only three? Maybe that made her nervous also.

-Dana

[Ortino]

Someone once posted on the forum that Alexandra seemed less worried or obsessed about Alexei when he was older, and even after Rasputin was dead. They said this is why she decided to leave him to the care of his sisters when leaving Tobolsk, which would have been unthinkable for her before. This is not to say that she cared any less about her son, but I do wonder why she felt less worried about him as he got older? Could it be because she thought the older he got the less likely he would be to get into dangerous situations (as opposed to a reckless little toddler or child)? Was she just worn out from constant worrying and more resigned to whatever fate had in store?

 Well, as he got older, he was bound to become more mature and understand better the nature of his illness. If he did so, he would be more likely to watch out for himself when playing, moving about etc. Also, you're right, he probably would have been in less dangerous situations in terms of childhood play. He would have eventually lost some of that recklessness.

[Sarai_Porretta]

It's true what you both have said about him being generally less reckless as he got older, which is why his mother wasn't as worried about him. But then again, I remember the incident when he slid down the stairs in Tobolsk - on purpose, out of sheer boredom. So he still had a wild streak his mother had to watch out for (the so-called "daredevil" effect?).

[RissiaSunbeam1918]

Doesn't that tend to run in hemophiliac boys to prove themselves to danger?  :-/ I beleive that was called the daredevil effect......yeah, I tried to sled down the stairs once...it hurt, and I'm not a hemophiliac so....

[Ortino]

It's true what you both have said about him being generally less reckless as he got older, which is why his mother wasn't as worried about him. But then again, I remember the incident when he slid down the stairs in Tobolsk - on purpose, out of sheer boredom. So he still had a wild streak his mother had to watch out for (the so-called "daredevil" effect?).

 I think there he just acted on impulse. He was clearly frustrated and bored, and that can drive one to do such things. I think that overall though, as he got older, he clearly became more responsible. Even after Rasputin died, his attacks seemed much less frequent.

[RissiaSunbeam1918]

But there is a "Daredevil effect" right? :-/

[Johnny]

But there is a "Daredevil effect" right? :-/

Yes. Robert Massie talks about the "Daredevil Effect" at length in his N&A.

[RissiaSunbeam1918]

Thanks. I was tewlve when I read that, so probably about half sank in lol. I'm going to re-read it this weekend though, because I want to look into this daredevil thing. (Things with the mind interest me so much.)