I finally figured out today who the LE step parent was in this group. Its the bio-moms husband! So, that says something to me - that the LE parent is also standing as a united family member.
IMO Tony looks like he might be the one holding this extended parent group together in this time of serious distress. I'm thinking he's been of good counsel to them. I'm thinking he's been protective. And he might be media-wary. I watched him @ the PC too. It seems to me he's not really worried about Terri. He is devoted to his wife Desiree, and he's clearly supporting Kaine (the hug). Likewise, I saw Terri supportive of her husband and Desiree.
I actually watched the PC six times, on a large screen, in silence. Every time I watch it, I felt better about this group and each person's genuineness. (Many times - other cases - every time I watch I feel worse!)
I do see Terri as the more animated - but she's also more engaged in what's going on around her - she's more aware of all the others. I see her checking to see the other three are right. I see her hand move supportingly to touch both men's backs just as they walk up to speak. I see her protect and comfort Desiree when Desiree's husband must leave Desiree's side. I see Terri and Desiree move together to stand as one and I actually see Desiree lean into Terri, responding as much, possibly more to Terri's arm around her as she responds to Tony's arm around her. To me, Terri seems an observant, demonstrative, caring, expressive caregiving type of person. Desiree is clearly distraught here, and seems fragile, quiet and private. I saw Terri show caring, deference, respect and support for Desiree while Desiree's husband was up talking about Desiree's missing child. I felt like Terri "got" that this was Desiree's baby and Desiree was the fragile mom. Terri seemed to stay pretty strong for them all until her husband was done speaking, and he was ready to comfort her. Terri checked his face to see if he was okay, then she gave in and put her head on his shoulder and kind of fell into him a bit, and he responded tenderly. Both women stood with a self-protective arm/hand posture. Both women hung on to their arms as if trying to just stay standing. Terri with one arm crossed over holding her other arm. Desiree never breaking the hands clasped with stiff arms in the front. That's protective body language - they both had it. Both showed some anxiety. Desiree focused inward, Terri focused outward on others.
I think Kaine hasn't slept yet. He looked much older than 36 to me. Kaine broke my heart because he had that overwhelmingly forlorn look I've seen in my own relatives when my strong rational guys lose it and finally fall completely apart. I be he's been working like a dog all week, no rest, and he just came up for air to have to tell the world this is the beginning of the 2nd week his son's been missing.
Oh yeah the blinking. One time through I did watch Terri's blinking as other suggested. She did have a blinking attack! (also anxiety) But, if I focus on the blinking, I miss what Terri's actually doing though. Even though she's anxious herself, she's still worried about the others. That's a little long, and I know others saw different things.
I just wanted to share a bit of what I saw with this heart wrenching press conference. I really studied it and tried to see what everyone else might be seeing too. I have concluded that we each read people based on our own personal observations, culture and experiences, to some degree.
I have no expertise or training - just a bit of life experience. And these are just my impressions from today. As usual, I reserve the right to change my impressions upon getting more input, in particular, factual information.
I think I'm glad I got to meet some of Kyron's family finally. I feel I know him a little bit better now. That is somehow comforting.
