I couldn’t sleep last night. 😢 My emotions were a cocktail of anger, guilt and frustration over what my helper shared with me.
Over the course of the Lunar New Year, we brought baby David to visit family and friends. David (to me) is really the best baby ever! ❤️👶🏻 He always makes me feel like I struck the baby lottery.
Through all the hours of going to new places, seeing strangers and hearing loud noises – David hardly fussed. In fact, he seemed totally content and happy while my helper was watching him that I didn’t think much about it… that I had zero idea that another child was being a bully to my baby. 😭😭
At one of the houses with other children, David took a liking to a particular toy (there were many toys). He was happily holding onto it and playing with it, when another child (about twice his age) snatched the toy from him, threw it on the ground and ran off! And this repeated every single time David had the toy in his hand. 😒😒😒
But according to my helper, David didn’t seem upset at all. He just looked at my helper for a few seconds after the child snatched the toy away, then proceeded to entertain himself some other way.
All this happened while I was just 1 meter away, socialising amongst all the noisy chaos that typically come with large gatherings.
I might sound like such an emotional or crazy mum, but last night I had sooooo many feelings.
#1 I felt so ANGRY for David and I wanted to cut that brat down!
🤬🤬🤬🤬
How can that little sh*t do something so bratty?? And he’s so much bigger and stronger than David too! The toy wasn’t even his! He was just bent on not letting David have fun with the toy.
#2 I felt an IMMENSE amount of mum guilt
😭😭😭
I mean, I was RIGHT THERE!! But I was just too busy chatting, eating, taking photos… I was completely oblivious to my little baby needing my protection.
#3 I felt pissed at the brat’s parents
😒😒😒
I wasn’t the only parent who was just right there… the brat’s parents were also right there! And you know what else? That brat was also doing other naughty things the entire time, but his parents just looked… sighed… turned away and continued chatting with us.
#4 Then, I felt pity for the brat
🥺🥺🥺
After I processed all my emotions and thoughts (and was done being a crazy momma bear), I began realising why that brat was behaving like a brat.
Hmm, maybe it’s a little unkind of me to be labelling him as a ‘brat’.
He was really trying to get his parents’ attention. I believe that children are hardwired to seek out connection with their parents/caretakers. As such, the more the parents try to turn a blind eye to his bratty behaviour, the more bratty things he will do. It’s really a vicious cycle.
#5 I was in awe at how calm and mature my little baby is
🥰🥰🥰
If anyone asks, I’m truly obsessed with David. To me, he’s absolutely perfect and I couldn’t ask for anything more. ❤️
Initially I had a fleeting moment of worry that he’s a pushover… but actually, no. When the neighbour’s kid tries to grab his toys, he (quite literally) screams bloody murder at the kid’s face and holds onto his toy super tightly until that kid starts crying and gives up.
So, I guess he understands the concept of personal property? So far he doesn’t seem to have any problem sharing his toys, but he doesn’t stand for it when someone tries to take it from him while he’s playing with it.
All this while he was really acting more like the adult than I was… 😅😅 There I was having an emotional outburst and was thisssss close to contacting that brat’s parents. But my more-mature-than-me 7-month-old baby helped me see things differently – some things/people are really not worth getting upset over.
Amazing. So mature plus so damn cuuuuute!!
Like I said, he’s the best baby everrrrr (in my entirely unobjective and biased opinion 🤭).
Ahem. Okay, calm down, Gera. 😂
Tsk, my son doesn’t need that toy anyway. I’ll buy him an even better one.
Okay, now that was childish of me, wasn’t it? 😆😆
Thanks for reading, guys! Till next time.
XOXO, Gera.
Gera Shen 