A few years ago, my friend and I had an animated discussion about obnoxious parents who want to show off their little children. What is your name, say hello, say bye bye, shake hands, give flying kiss etc... but what takes the cake is "show auntie where the fan is". "The heights!" my friend would fume, "I mean don't I know where the fan is or what?"
Now, that my little one is almost a year old, I am reminded of these must-dos in public life. A genial neighbour, after pinching cheeks, pulling fingers, touching hair, trying to grab him and walk away etc. (my child, oh my child!) finally reconciled to giving my baby back to me intact. However, in order to sustain my baby's interest (if only he could have spoken...) , she proceeded to have a conversation with him. "What is your name?" "He is not yet one..." I simpered. "Ah," she said, putting a world of meaning into it and giving another long look at the baby. "Shake hands" she said putting out her hand. If I could believe a 11-month old capable of a dirty look, then my son is very capable. He was not however upto the task of shaking hands. Not one to give up, "Where is amma, say amma" said my neighbour again. My son stared at her stonily and for some reason gave her a smile. (what a silly question this big person is asking me, perhaps). However no reply came. The dreaded crowning glory came soon after, "Fan enga fan?". I had to interrupt. This was too much. "He doesn't do anything," I said. "He doesn't talk, he doesn't show things, he doesn't do any tricks." I smiled winningly at her. She looked incredulously at me. "You leave him with me for half a day, see what all I can make him do. You have to teach children learn all this.... " blah blah.
Even as I was looking for a way out, my little one, my wonderful adorable brat of 11 months, came to my rescue. He leaked his pee all over her carpet. Children have their own weapons and methods of communication and my little one had just got his message across.
Now we smile when we meet at the car park, but she has never renewed her request to train my child to show where the fan is.
Now, that my little one is almost a year old, I am reminded of these must-dos in public life. A genial neighbour, after pinching cheeks, pulling fingers, touching hair, trying to grab him and walk away etc. (my child, oh my child!) finally reconciled to giving my baby back to me intact. However, in order to sustain my baby's interest (if only he could have spoken...) , she proceeded to have a conversation with him. "What is your name?" "He is not yet one..." I simpered. "Ah," she said, putting a world of meaning into it and giving another long look at the baby. "Shake hands" she said putting out her hand. If I could believe a 11-month old capable of a dirty look, then my son is very capable. He was not however upto the task of shaking hands. Not one to give up, "Where is amma, say amma" said my neighbour again. My son stared at her stonily and for some reason gave her a smile. (what a silly question this big person is asking me, perhaps). However no reply came. The dreaded crowning glory came soon after, "Fan enga fan?". I had to interrupt. This was too much. "He doesn't do anything," I said. "He doesn't talk, he doesn't show things, he doesn't do any tricks." I smiled winningly at her. She looked incredulously at me. "You leave him with me for half a day, see what all I can make him do. You have to teach children learn all this.... " blah blah.
Even as I was looking for a way out, my little one, my wonderful adorable brat of 11 months, came to my rescue. He leaked his pee all over her carpet. Children have their own weapons and methods of communication and my little one had just got his message across.
Now we smile when we meet at the car park, but she has never renewed her request to train my child to show where the fan is.
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